Oceans of God's Love

2012-01-31T07:32:00.000-08:00

I read this in a paper that my mom takes. It reminds me of my childhood days.

THE BOLL WEEVIL

It don't look hardly fair,
To see the cotton stalk look so bare.
It's so tall, slim and boil less.
The little critter that caused it must be soulless.
The plant food has only made stalk and leaves,
And hardly enough blossoms for the bees.
The boll weavel thinks the job is done will.
As almost every square has fell.
Just a few grown bolls
The stalk now holds.
Just a few fine locks.
Not enough to make a pair of socks
They say they are a blessing in disguise,
To diminish the 25,000.000 bales supplus size.
-Henry Henderson 1939
copied from market bullitin

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“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begottten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND

2012-01-30T09:25:00.001-08:00

Joy … until we face sorrow.
Faith … until it is tested.
Peace … until faced with conflict.
Trust … until we are betrayed.
Love … until it is lost.
Hope … until confronted with doubts.
-Author unknown

Father's Love Letter

2012-01-07T06:10:00.000-08:00

Father's Love LetterAn Intimate Message From God To You.

My Child,

You may not know me,
but I know everything about you.
Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up.
Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways.
Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.
Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image.
Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being.
Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring.
Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived.
Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation.
Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake,
for all your days are written in my book.
Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth
and where you would live.
Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb.
Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born.
Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented
by those who don't know me.
John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry,
but am the complete expression of love.
1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.
1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child
and I am your Father.
1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.
Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father.
Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.
James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.
Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love.
Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless
as the sand on the seashore.
Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you.
Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession.
Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you
with all my heart and all my soul.
Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things.
Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart,
you will find me.
Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you
the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires.
Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you
than you could possibly imagine.
Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you
in all your troubles.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted,
I am close to you.
Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb,
I have carried you close to my heart.
Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away
every tear from your eyes.
Revelation 21:3-4

And I'll take away all the pain
you have suffered on this earth.
Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you
even as I love my son, Jesus.
John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.
John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being.
Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you,
not against you.
Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression
of my love for you.
1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved
that I might gain your love.
Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus,
you receive me.
1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you
from my love again.
Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party
heaven has ever seen.
Luke 15:7

I have always been Father,
and will always be Father.
Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…
Will you be my child?
John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you.
Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your DadAlmighty God

Father's Love Letter used by permission Father Heart Communications
© 1999-2011 www.FathersLoveLetter.com

The Night Before Christmas

2011-12-20T07:53:00.000-08:00

"'twas the night before Christmas""

'twas the night before Christmas and there was no moon and a solar eclipse foretold what present the world was getting soon;

Children nestled in bed snug and tight disappeared when Jesus came like a thief in the night;

As soon as he came the earth shook with tremendous force and to their horror many awoke of course;

Husbands felt for their wives were gone and vise versa wife's for their husbands were none;

The fortunate flew in the clouds that night nothing to do with Santa get it right;

For Israel saw the psalm 83 war start and the great earthquake shook the earth apart;

The scoffers did not hear how dare that grinch ruin their Christmas cheer;

Little did they know everyone who was not watching and waiting for Jesus Christ praying for themselves to be found worthy for his coming was near;

They forgot the real meaning of Christs birth a savior was born but the thing was they had to accept his gift to be reborn;

Church was about socializing and seen to be seen doughnuts and daycare and a nice clean mainstream;

But really it was about we are all lost and without hope in this world born condemned, the sin nature in our genes a gift from Satan ( gee coal I get it) passed through Adam;

Christ died for our sin nature to be killed and replaced with the new nature the holy spirit distills;

Washed by his blood accepting his lordship and sacrifice and believing God that he raised him from death we are to walk in the light not party at night;

There was a blood moon December 10th, a bad omen for Israel not the rest;

The worlds bad omen comes December 24th when the solar eclipse and dark moon may chart Israel's course;

And those that were wise kept extra oil in their lamps, held off the scoffers when September 29th came and went;

They watched through October 14th through the 21st then all through November;

Crystal skulls calling demons down 11/11/11 and after a couple thousand years no one remembers why they were hidden and brought them out again;

People since then all our bill of rights went away two hundred twenty years to the day;

Yet joe public does not seem to notice or care he can be disappeared without recourse or care;

Got to keep working the 52% that are supporting the other 47% while the one percent look on;

Your money will be TP the day Jesus comes silver and gold tossed into the street worthless as well;

You'll have two choices left behind tele the mark and be forever lost, or get your head chopped off eternal life in heaven is worth the cost;

Those that have will be given more that's Jesus you all, those that have not shall have nothing left at all;

My son asked Jesus to talk to him and dreamed, the house turned sideways ninety degrees then in turned upside down and did not turn right side up then he woke up;

Five year olds do not know about pole shifts; I wish I was five and God gave me such a gift;

To warn what was coming so others could make the switch, please listen to this do not go into the ditch;

Jesus is coming time to play is up, concerned about Christmas you better look up;

The bill is coming due for all our sin, it's a charge we cannot pay;

God forgave our debt through Jesus right up to today, by grace you are saved not of works; but obey Gods words and do not be lukewarm converts;

The rapture is a reward for those faithfully watching and waiting for the Lords return; if your mind is on an Earthly Christmas you should be concerned;

The signs are all in place the watchers have warned the scoffers have recieved grace, do not think Jesus is slack coming back;

For those not watching it will be a normal day and night with a twinkle of the eye then nothing will be alright; the scoffers will be right until they are not one night;

I am not writing this because I want to but because the spirit has led me too; God wants none to perish but to repent;

The world wants to shop till they drop; more credit more presents, yeah some say Christmas but Xmas too but it's about a savior for me and you;

God is coming and the world is deaf they proclaim his birthday when it's not but they are deaf; soothing wards Christmas cheer;

Can't you see we are Babylon, Sodom, dis God with our thoughts and actions turn the tv on pick up a magazine or book listen to a song go to a movie it's clear;

The thing is they do not believe Gods coming is near all things continue on as normal is all they hear; sure some disasters but global warning they fear;

Fear the Lord for that is the beginning of wisdom you hear; www3 is near planned look up Christ is near, straight is the way and narrow the way home to heaven from hear;

No aliens did not create you from monkeys, but the sons of god fallen ones did mix with the daughters of men, we are fallen also from Adam and Eves original sin;

There is a reason you were born, to be a new man reborn of spirit and water a new creation in Christ, a fit habitation for the Lord not a fit body to purchase all that's gaudy;

I cannot offer earthly cheer Christ is near and unless you drop your pride, go inside humble your heart and confess your sin, ask for Jesus blood make him lord and begin again;

You are decieved walking in the vanity of your mind according to this worlds course you will find its all coming to an end when the rapture occurs its chop chop time;

They were partying in Noah's day till the rain came and washed them away, if your not repenting of sin and calling on the name of the Lord do it today ;

Many say Jesus and go to church but the lord is saying unless there is spiritual rebirth, what is earthly cannot go up to heaven and inherit the earth;

I do not know how else to say to a society so blinded by the day, night is coming and you cannot run away; four more years won't save you only turning away;

Christ was born to be Lord and savior for us to follow and pick up our cross; do not neglect so great a gift that you will be lost!-From "fivedoves"

And He Shall Be Called I Am

2011-12-19T06:51:00.000-08:00

I am The I AM...
I am The Lord Your God.
I am The Lord Your Righteousness.
I am The Anointed One.
I am The Christ.
I am The Messiah.
I am The Lord of All.
I am The Maker of All Things.
I am The Everlasting Light of the World...
I am The Light Which Also Sends the Light.
I am The Source of Life.
I am Eternal Life.
I am Your Salvation.
I am Freedom From Sin.
I am The Passover.
I am The Lamb of God.
I am The Redeemer.
I am The Ransom.
I am The Prince of Peace.
I am Your Strength.
I am The Glorious One on High.
I am The Image of God.
I am The Keeper of My Saints.
I am The Lover of Souls.
I am The Resurrection and The Life.
I am The Beloved One of Men’s Hearts.
I am The One in Which All Rejoice.
I am The Song of Your Heart.
I am The One, Alone, Worthy of Worship and Praise.
I am The Kingdom.
I am The Power.
I am The Glory.
I am The Creation.
I am The Wisdom.
I am The One Who Is.
I am Forever.
I am The Father.
I am The Joy.
I am The Beholder of Life.
I am The King of kings.
I am The Only God.
I am The Love That Never Dies.
I am The Protector.
I am The One Who Reigns Forever.
I am The Alpha.
I am The Omega.
I am The Author...
I am also The Finisher.
I am The Word.
I am The Very Breath of Life.
I am The Sanctuary.
I am Your Faith.
I am Your Closest Friend.
I am Your Sacrifice.
I am The Bright and Morning Star.
I am coming quickly.
I am The Reaper...
I am also The Sower.
I am The Existence.
I am The Water of Life...
I am also Your Bread, The Very Manna from Heaven.
I am The Way.
I am The Truth.
I am The Life.
I am The Savior.
I am YahShua.
I am The Risen One.
I am The Conqueror.
I am The Authority.
I am The Shepherd.
I am The One to Whom Sing the Hosts of Heaven.
I am The Fulfillment of All Things.
I am The Faithful and True Witness.
I am Holy.
I am The Seat.
I am Mercy...
I am also Wrath and Justice.
I am Your Servant.
I am The Healer.
I am He Who Searches the Hearts and Minds.
I am The Judgment.
I am The Cornerstone.
I am The Rock.
I am The Tree...
I am also The Branch.
I am The Son of David.
I am The Peace for All Times.
I am in you.
I am The Day Star Who Arises in the Hearts of Men.
I am The Voice.
I am The Counselor.
I am The Hope.
I am Your Heart’s Desire.
I am The One Who Holds the Keys.
I am The Bestower of Gifts.
I am Long-Suffering.
I am The Reward.
I am The Salvation Day.
I am The Horn of Salvation.
I am God’s Salvation, The Messiah...
I am YahuShua HaMashiach.
I am The First Born from the Dead.
I am The First Born Over All Creation.
I am The First Fruit.
I am Your High Priest.
I am The Face of God.
I am The Image of The Invisible God.
I am The Holy One of Israel.
I am Immanu El.
I am The Mediator.
I am The Mighty and Strong One.
I am The Right Arm of God.
I am The Strong One of Jacob.
I am The Lion of Judah.
I am The Warrior of God Who Needs No Weapon.
I am The One with the Double-Edged Sword in His Mouth.
I am He Who Sits on the White Horse.
I am He Who is Coming on the Clouds.
I am He Who Will Shine from the East Unto the West.
I am The Son of Man.
I am He Who Holds the Iron Scepter.
I am The Lord of Lords.
I am He Who Holds the Seven Stars in His Right Hand.
I am He Who Has Eyes Like Flaming Fire.
I am He Who Wears the Golden Sash.
I am The First and The Last.
I am He Who Died and is Alive Forevermore.
I am The Conqueror of Death.
I am The One Who Has the Sevenfold Spirit of God.
I am The One Who Has the Key of David.
I am He Who Opens Doors that No One Can Shut.
I am The Ruler.
I am The One Who Sits at The Right Hand of God.
I am The In All, Be All, of Existence.
I am The True Vine.
I am The Love That Never Fades.
I am The Inspiration.
I am The Star out of Jacob.
I am Almighty.
I am Reachable.
I am Close to You.
I am Your Helper.
I am Your Comfort.
I am Your Rear Guard.
I am The One Who Longs to Hold You.
I am He Who Gathers You to Him.
I am Lord of Heaven and Earth.
I am The HalleluYah.
I am Your Advocate.
I am Your Cloak.
I am The Holy Presence.
I am The Spirit.
I am The Anchor.
I am The Beloved of Men.
I am The Nectar of Life.
I am The Restoration of All Things.
I am The Holder of the Book of Life.
I am He Who Has Loved You Before the Foundation of the Earth.
I am He Through Which You Were Made.
I am Your Tears of Joy.
I am Christ Jesus.
I am for you and you for Me.
I am Yeshua, The Gift.
I am The Amen.
I am The All in All... I AM.

-http://www.trumpetcallofgodonline.com

At Christmas

2011-12-13T08:35:00.000-08:00

"A man is at his finest

towards the finish of the year;

He is almost what he should be

when the Christmas season is here;

Then he's thinking more of others

than he's thought the months before,

And the laughter of his children

is a joy worth toiling for.

He is less a selfish creature than

at any other time;

When the Christmas spirit rules him

he comes close to the sublime.

When it's Christmas man is bigger

and is better in his part;

He is keener for the service

that is prompted by the heart.

All the petty thoughts and narrow

seem to vanish for awhile

And the true reward he's seeking

is the glory of a smile.

Then for others he is toiling and

somehow it seems to me

That at Christmas he is almost

what God wanted him to be.

If I had to paint a picture of a man

I think I'd wait

Till he'd fought his selfish battles

and had put aside his hate.

I'd not catch him at his labors

when his thoughts are all of pelf,

On the long days and the dreary

when he's striving for himself.

I'd not take him when he's sneering,

when he's scornful or depressed,

But I'd look for him at Christmas

when he's shining at his best.

Man is ever in a struggle

and he's oft misunderstood;

There are days the worst that's in him

is the master of the good,

But at Christmas kindness rules him

and he puts himself aside

And his petty hates are vanquished

and his heart is opened wide.

Oh, I don't know how to say it,

but somehow it seems to me

That at Christmas man is almost

what God sent him here to be."

-Edgar Guest

Singing God's Praise

2011-11-30T09:42:00.000-08:00

Come Before God With Singing
The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. Ps. 33:5

A man named Bill was taken prisoner by the enemy during the Korean war. He and others with him were taken to a stockade and each man put in a hut or shack. There was no daylight at all in the huts, except for a small sliver that somehow crept under the door for just a few minutes each day. The guards allowed no talking between prisoners, and no other form of communication, but the men found that by tapping their fingers on the wall, they could send and receive messages. Each night a guard brought a small piece of bread and a jug of lukewarm water, set it inside the door, and left without speaking. Silence was meant to be the means of breaking their spirits. The men weren't totally without company though - there were plenty of bugs, ants, and mice. After several weeks, Bill noticed the tapped messages were growing fewer and farther apart; then they ceased almost completely. Still, he continued to tap, hoping there would be an answer. Sometimes, he'd hear a very faint answer, then these too stopped. Bill found himself falling into a deep despair. "Surely'" he thought, "God has deserted me, I shall die here alone, in this darkness and silence."

I will keep thy statutes; O forsake me not utterly. Ps. 119:8

One day, when the small faint light showed under the door, Bill lay down on the filthy dirt floor and peered out to see if there was any living thing he could see before he died. He thought, "I'm as far down as I can get; mentally, spiritually, and bodily. I'll take one more look to see if there is anything left of God out there." Assuming his buddies were dead, he knew that he, too, would die, but not without that last look. To his amazement, moving slightly in the breeze, was a small blade of grass. Nothing more could he see - just a small blade of grass. But it stirred something in his heart. As he lay there, staring at the grass, he began to hum a song, then sing it aloud, not caring if he'd be punished or even put to death. In his weakened state, he began to sing, softly at first, then louder -

Oh Lord my God when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then he sang the chorus to this beautiful hymn, and when he stopped, a weak voice from one of the other huts said softly, "Sing it again, Bill."

Hymns that magnify the Lord always bring strength and hope. Encourage yourself by singing hymns of praise. Regardless of our circumstances, He is still God, He will always be God, and He will always be with those who love and worship Him.

Come before His presence with singing............and into His courts with praise. Ps. 100: 2,4

Satisfied Fully

2011-11-29T05:30:00.001-08:00

We shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house. Psa. 65:4

One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. Psa. 27:4
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Matt. 5:6

He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. Luke 1:53
He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. Psa. 107:9

I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. John 6:35
How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light. Psa. 36:7-9

Be Not Troubled

2011-11-28T07:12:00.000-08:00

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:1-3

As the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that he might deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Heb. 2:14, 15

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. I Cor. 15:55, 57

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. II Cor. 4:16

We know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. We are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. II Cor. 5:1, 6-8

A Grateful Heart

2011-11-22T07:27:00.000-08:00

Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart

	From Psalms 100 we read: Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
	For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

COMING OF THE LORD

2011-11-21T10:17:00.000-08:00

BIBLE VERSES ON THE COMING OF THE LORD

Mark 13:35-37 (KJV): 35Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

36Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. 37And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

Romans 13:11 (KJV): And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

1 Thessalonians 5:6 (KJV): Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

Without Jesus

2011-11-17T16:12:00.000-08:00

Where Would I Be Without Jesus

When my burdens get heavy
I just kneel down and pray
I ask God to work 'em out
Not mine, but his own way

Safe in his arms, what a relief
For without Jesus where would I be?

Where would I be without Jesus
Where would I spend eternity
Lost in the world full of sorrow
Without Jesus where would I be?

--- Instrumental ---

In Chapter 14 of John verse 2 and 3
He says he's preparing a place for you and me
With him on my side that's all I'll ever need
Oh, without Jesus where would I be?

Where would I be without Jesus
Where would I spend eternity
Lost in the world full of sorrow
Without Jesus where would I be?
-Buck Owens -

http://lyrics-keeper.com

Quote: "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." C.S. Lewis

Sanctified Throught the Word of God

2011-11-16T06:26:00.000-08:00

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 17:17

Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. John 15:3
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom. Col. 3:16

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Psa. 119:9, 10

When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul: discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee. Prov. 2:10, 11

My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. Job 23:11, 12

I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. Psa. 119:99

If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:31, 32

Bearing Fruit

2011-11-10T12:24:00.000-08:00

Fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. Col. 1:10

I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. John 15:16
I beseech you.... brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Rom. 12:1, 2

As ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. In Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy. Gal. 6:15, 16

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. John 15:8

As Your Days

2011-11-07T07:25:00.000-08:00

DAILY STRENGTH
(MacDuff, "Words of Comfort to the Christian Pilgrim")

"As your days, so shall your strength be." Deut. 33:25

The Christian is frequently compared to a pilgrim,
traveling onwards through a dreary wilderness, to
the promised land of Canaan.
His experience is varied and chequered. The
path before him may be steep and arduous.
He may have to pass through . . .
rough and stony places;
dark, thick forests;
rapid streams;
raging hurricanes.
His days may be such, as to require great . . .
strength,
and energy,
and perseverance.
Oftentimes, when he strives to anticipate the future,
his heart sinks within him, his courage fails, and he is
apt to give way to despondency and doubt. But, such
a promise, "As your days, so shall your strength be,"
may well suffice to calm the believer's fears, and
reanimate his fainting spirit.
It is true, that changes and vicissitudes will come;
true, that the heart, which today is cheerful and happy,
may tomorrow be wounded and bleeding; true, that the
full cup, now held with gladness, may be dashed in pieces,
before the lips have tasted the refreshing draught; true,
that the bright hope, which, like a guiding star, allures
the traveler onwards, may speedily be enwrapped in
pitchy gloom.
But to the child of God, there is a supply of strength
to meet the hour of trial. He is not permitted to escape
from the burden, the cross, the difficulty. But he is
enabled to make his way through them all; to struggle
with, and finally to overcome them.
Many a time, when the believer has been well near
crushed under the oppressive weight; when, conscious
that ordinary strength would not avail, he has cried
unto the Lord, and a fresh supply of grace has been
given to meet the emergency; so that he could say
with David, "I waited patiently for the Lord to help
me, and He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted
me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the
mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied
me as I walked along." Psalm 40:1-2
It would be easy for God, to make the path heavenward,
plain and unobstructed to His children; easy, to remove
all care, anxiety, and sorrow. But such is not His purpose.
Earth is the training school for Heaven. God wills that
His children should be tried; that their spiritual natures
should be refined and purified in the furnace of affliction.
And that thus, by the very struggles and pains of their
earthly pilgrimage, they should become more and more
fit for serving Him in this world; and more and more fit
for the inheritance of the saints in light.
The Christian, by each difficulty he is called on to
encounter; by each trial he is summoned to bear;
by each virtue he is required to call into exercise;
becomes more vigorous, earnest, faithful, and
Christlike. His soul is gradually training and
strengthening by duty, trial, and endurance here;
for glory, honor, and immortality hereafter.
Every fresh victory . . .
over pride,
over vanity,
over avarice,
over selfishness,
over fretfulness,
makes us stronger for the time to come, and
insures the fulfillment of the promise, "As your
days, so shall your strength be."
Christian! mark again these words. They do not
give the pledge, that we shall not feel the burden
and heat of the day. All they promise is, that we
shall get safely through. They do not say that we
shall not feel the weight of our duties, trials,
temptations, conflicts. All they say is, that we
shall have strength to bear their weight, and
journey on with our load.
The grace imparted, will then be "sufficient" for
us; sufficient for our actual necessities; sufficient
strength equal to our day.
Strength to encounter the tempest will
be given when the tempest rages.
Strength to breast the foaming surges will be
given when the hurricane has actually come.
Strength to grapple with the last enemy will
be given when he comes forth to meet you.
Yes, Christian! be assured, grace and strength
will be imparted when you need them, as certainly
as they will be withheld before you need them.
He who guides you, knows your necessities, and,
in the day of trouble, will not leave you comfortless.
Journey on, then, with firmness, relying on His
promise. Your day is coming. You will, before long,
enter into your final rest, and repose from all your
labors. You will take possession of the promised
inheritance, and will then acknowledge with a grateful
heart, "As my days, so my strength has been."

Ten Commandments

2011-11-05T05:46:00.000-07:00

Helen Steiner Rice's 10 Commandments

Helen Steiner Rice's
10 Commandments
The personal commandments of Helen Steiner Rice emphasized optimism:

1. Thou shalt be happy

2. Thou shalt use thy talents to make others glad.

3. Thou shalt rise above defeat and trouble.

4. Thou shalt look upon each day as a new day.

5. Thou shalt always do thy best and leave the rest to God.

6. Thou shalt not waste thy time and energy in useless worry.

7. Thou shalt look only on the bright side of life.

8. Thou shalt not be afraid of tomorrow.

9. Thou shalt have a kind word and a kind deed for everyone.

10. Thou shalt say each morning -- I am a child of God and nothing can hurt me.

http://lovebearsallthings-lovethemsteiff.blogspot.com

Proverbs

2011-10-29T14:45:00.001-07:00

Words From Proverbs
Words can hurt and words can heal. There is tremendous power in words. We are wise when we use our words to help, and encourage. We can bring words of comfort or destory by using discouraging words and bringing on judgment. Solomon tells us that one who keeps his tongue is wise.God’s Word has much to say about words.

Proverbs
15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

17:27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
17:28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
12:18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
10:19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
16:23 The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
16:24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
Lord help usss to use our tongue to bless and not hurt.

COME, HOLY SPIRIT, GOD AND LORD!

2011-10-28T07:49:00.000-07:00

“My Lord and my God.” John 20:28
Come, Holy Spirit, God and Lord!
Let all your graces be outpoured
On each believer’s mind and heart;
Your fervent love to us impart.
Lord, by the brightness of Your light,
You in the faith do men unite
Of every land and every tongue;
This to Your praise, O Lord, be sung.
From every error keep us free;
Let none but Christ our Master be,
That we in living faith abide,
In Him with all our might confide.
Lord, by Your power prepare each heart
And to the weakness strength impart,
That bravely here we may contend,
Through life and death to You ascend.
-author unknown
From cyber hymns

Repentance Prayer

2011-10-26T07:56:00.000-07:00

Precious Lord Jesus
I repent of all sin today
Since I was born until day of the Rapture
I am repenting today
Cleanse me and write my name in the Book of Life
And Jesus restrain, me and do allow me to return to sin
Fill me with the morning dew of glory, that I may enter the wedding of the Lamb.
In Jesus Name, I repent today

Let Your Light Shine

2011-10-23T13:25:00.000-07:00

Luke 21:26 (KJV): Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

Matthew 5:16 (KJV): Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Genesis 24:22 (KJV): And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;

Revelation 21:4 (KJV): And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Psalm 40:3 (KJV): And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

Psalm 16:11 (KJV): Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Mark 8:36 (KJV): For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
Deuteronomy 30:19 (KJV): I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

Sweet Fellowship

2011-10-20T12:46:00.000-07:00

Ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son. I Cor. 1:9
He received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. II Pet. 1:17
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God. I John 3:1
Be ye ... followers of God, as dear children. Eph. 5:1
If children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ. Rom. 8:17
The brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person. Heb. 1:3
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matt. 5:16
Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame. Heb. 12:2
These things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. John 17:13
As the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. II Cor. 1:5

God Hates These Things

2011-10-15T09:36:00.000-07:00

Seven Things God Hates

1. Haughty eyes
2. A lying tongue
3. Hands that shed innocent blood
4. A heart that devises wicked schemes
5. Feet that are quick to rush into evil
6. A flase witness who pours out lies
7. A man who stirs up dissinsion among brothers
-Proverbs 6: 16-19 NIV

Hope

2011-10-04T07:43:00.000-07:00

Hope is the mental attitude of confidence that results from learning and applying Bible truth regarding the future.We have hope, knowing that we have salvation in Christ. Romans 5:1-2, NKJV. "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."
Hope looks for the good in people instead of harping on the worst in them
Hope opens doors where despair closes them
Hope discovers what can be done instead of grumbling about what cannot be done.
Hope draws its power from a deep trust in God and the basic goodness of mankind
Hope lighta a candle instead of “Cursing the darkness.”
Hope reguards problems, small or lrarge, as opportunities
Hope cherishes no illusions, nor does it yield to cynicism

God's promise of eternal life gives hope. Titus 1:2, NKJV. "in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,"

God's Perfection

2011-10-01T13:23:00.001-07:00

Let God Choose

As for God, His way is perfect! Psalm 18:30
Let God choose for you, it will be the right decision.
Let God guide you, it will be the right direction.
Let God plan for you, it will be in the right timing.
Let God measure for you, it will be the right portion.
Let God help you, it will be the right care.
Let God instruct you, it will be the right teaching.
Let God prepare you, it will be the right training.
Let God counsel you, it will be the right perspective.
Let God fight for you, it will be the right outcome.
Let God work in you, it will be the right result.

Love's Ingredients

2011-09-30T10:13:00.001-07:00

1 Patience – No hurry, suffers long, bears- believes, hopes and endures all things.
2. Kindness – Never acts rashly or insolently: Not inconsistent, puffed up, or proud
3 – Generosity – love in competition, not envious or jealous.
4 – Humility – love in hiding; no airs; Works then retires
5 – Courtesy – love in society; does not behave unseemly; always polite; at home with all classes; never rude or discourteous.
6 – Unselfishness (Love in essence) Never selfish, sour or bitter; seeks only good of others, does not retaliate or seek revenge.
7 – Good Temper Never irritated or resentful
8 – Righteousness (love in conduct) hates sin. Never glad when others go wrong. Always eager to believe the best. Always hopeful and enduring.
9 – Sincerity (love in profession) Never boastful or conceited. Not a hypocrite, but always honest. Does not blaze out in anger or brood over wrongs. Always just, joyful, and trustful. Knows how to be silent. Full of trust.

In The Valley

2011-09-28T08:29:00.001-07:00

IN THE VALLEY HE IS THERE

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. -Psalm 23:4

When life seems to be tumbling down on us we know that God is still with us. We do not have to be afraid of the many problems and trials that come our way, because the LORD our God is there fighting for us. It may not seem that God is there but He promised to never leave us or forsake us. We need only take Him at His Word.

Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me...
The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. -Psalm 118:6 “Never will I leave You; never will I forsake You.” Deu. 31:6

Even in the Valley God is Good. The Lord is good to those who depend on Him, to those who search for Him. Lam. 3:25

In the Valleys

Sometimes life seems hard to bear,
Full of sorrow, trouble and woe
It’s then I have to remember
That it’s in the valleys I grow.
If I always stayed on the mountain top
And never experienced pain,
I would never appreciate God’s love
And would be living in vain.

I have so much to learn
And my growth is very slow,
Sometimes I need the mountain tops,
But it’s in the valleys I grow.

I do not always understand
Why things happen as they do,
But I am very sure of one thing.
My Lord will see me through.

My little valleys are nothing
When I picture Christ on the cross
He went through the valley of death;
His victory was Satan’s loss.

Forgive me Lord, for complaining
When I’m feeling so very low.
Just give me a gentle reminder
That it’s in the valleys I grow.

Continue to strengthen me, Lord
And use my life each day
To share your love with others
And help them find their way.

Thank you for valleys, Lord
For this one thing I know
The mountain tops are glorious
But it’s in the valleys I grow!
-author unknown

Hope

2011-09-27T12:21:00.000-07:00

From the Psalms:
16:9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will
rest secure,

31:24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.

33:18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose
hope is in his unfailing love,

22 May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope
in you.

WHISPERING HOPE BY THE CHUCH WAGON GANG BELOW

Jesus The I Am

2011-09-24T13:36:00.001-07:00

Jesus, The I Am
1.The Bread
“I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger.” John 6:35
2. Light
“I am the light of the world; he who fallows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12
3.The Gate
“I am the gate; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” John 10:9
4. The Good Shepherd
“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for His sheep.” John 10:11
5. The Resurrection and Life
“I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies.” John 11:25
6.The Way, Truth, Life
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” John 14:6
7. The True vine
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.” John 15:1
The divinity of Jesus Christ is further illustrated in John 8:58. Jesus said, “Truly, Truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am”, which means that Jesus existed before His human life on earth.

To One Who Overcomes

2011-09-23T15:56:00.000-07:00

He that overcometh shall inherit all things. Rev. 21:7

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. I Cor. 15:19

Now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city. Heb. 11:16

An inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you. I Pet. 1:4

All things are yours; ... the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours. I Cor. 3:21, 22

Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit. I Cor. 2:9, 10

Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. II John 8

Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Heb. 12:1

Saint Theresa's Prayer

May today there be peace within.

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you be content knowing you are a child of God.

Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing,

dance, praise and love.

It is there for each and every one of us.

Eternal Life

2011-09-19T08:04:00.000-07:00

Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. - John 6:68

"Lord Jesus, has words of everlasting life. There is no other one who can give us eternal life. Jesus Christ is the truth ("I am the way, the truth, and the life", John 14:6)

He only has eternal words of life.
Words of life to guide us throught the days ahead
Words of life to help us grow in love for one another.
Surrendering all to our Lord brings complete happiness.
There is none other with whom we can go.

Who else can help us in all our everyday problems and concerns.
Eternal life is only through our Lord. We want everlasting life, to dwell in His presence.
To sit at his feet and learn.

Blessed Hope

2011-09-17T07:40:00.001-07:00

That blessed hope, the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Titus 2:13
Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil: whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus. Heb. 6:19, 20
Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things. Acts 3:21
When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe. II Thess. 1:10
The whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also…. groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. Rom. 8:22, 23
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is. I John 3:2
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory Col. 3:4
Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Rev. 22:20

Heirs of God

2011-09-14T08:30:00.001-07:00

Ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son. I Cor. 1:9
He received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. II Pet. 1:17
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God. I John 3:1

Be ye ... followers of God, as dear children. Eph. 5:1
If children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ. Rom. 8:17
The brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person. Heb. 1:3
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matt. 5:16

Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame. Heb. 12:2
These things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. John 17:13
As the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. II Cor. 1:5

Living or Dying, We Belong to God

2011-08-22T10:52:00.000-07:00

None of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. Rom. 14:7

Whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. Rom. 14:8
Let no man seek his own: but every man another's wealth. I Cor. 10:24
Ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. I Cor. 6:20

Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better. Phil. 1:20-23

I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Gal. 2:19, 20

Give Thanks

2011-08-09T07:28:00.000-07:00

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; -Eph. 5:20Mankind by sinful nature is an ingrate. He seldom thingks of anythibg but his own selfish interest. Only redeeming grace in the heart can make one truly thaankful, but once this imparted thanksgiving should be the constant habit of the Christian.

---Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen. -Ruth 2:20Ruth felt highly honored that God had included her among His children, giving her part in His program. She little knew then what a great place in history was being carried out for her, as the maternal ancstor of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We too, are largely unaware of teh great place God is preparing for us in His kingdom. His kindness to us through Christ, in receiving us as Gentiles into the Kingdom, can neer be praised too much. How grateful we should eer be for this kindness.

Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. -1 Chron. 16: 29 We are all too prone to ask, ask, ask, with far too little of praise and adoration in ou prayers. God is pleased to have us ask; but He must sometimes feel as Christ did when only one of the tem cleansed lepers returned to give Him thanks - "where are the nine"

Blessed Hope

2011-07-29T14:45:00.000-07:00

That blessed hope.... the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Titus 2:13
Our conversation is in heaven. Phil. 3:20
Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down. Isa. 64:1

Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices. Song 8:14
We ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. Rom. 8:23

Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke. Psa. 144:5
This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Acts 1:11

Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. Heb. 9:28
It shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. Isa. 25:9

He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Rev. 22:20

From Death to Life

2011-07-25T05:19:00.000-07:00

We know that we have passed from death unto life. I John 3:14

He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24
He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. I John 5:12
He which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. II Cor. 1:21, 22
Hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. I John 3:19, 21
We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. I John 5:19
You hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins. Eph. 2:1
Quickened . . . together with Christ. Eph. 2:5
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. Col. 1:13

No One Knows the Day

2011-07-23T14:15:00.000-07:00

Of that day and that hour knoweth no man no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. Mark 13:32, 33, 37

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. II Pet. 3:9
The coming of the Lord draweth nigh. The judge standeth before the door. James 5:8, 9
Surely I come quickly. Rev. 22:20

Seeing ... that ail these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness? II Pet. 3:11

The end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. I Pet. 4:7
Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Luke 12:35, 36

Saved Frm Wrath

2011-07-22T05:44:00.000-07:00

While we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. Rom. 5:8, 9

In that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Rom. 6:10

He was numbered with the transgressors. Isa. 53:12
Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many. Heb. 9:28

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. I Pet. 2:24
By one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Heb. 10:14

This man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Heb. 7:24, 25

Forasmuch . . . as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. I Pet. 4:1, 2

God Satisfies

2011-07-11T16:01:00.000-07:00

He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. Psa. 107:9
Ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. I Pet. 2:3

O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; to see thy power and thy glory. Psa. 63:1, 2
My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. Psa. 84:2
Having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better. Phil. 1:23

I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. Psa. 17:15
They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Rev. 7:16, 17

They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. Psa. 36:8
My people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the LORD. Jer. 31:14

Suffering For Christ

2011-07-10T13:12:00.000-07:00

The disciple is not above his master. Matt. 10:24
Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. John 13:13
It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. Matt. 10:25
If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. John 15:20

I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world John 17:14.
Consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. Heb. 12:3, 4

Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb. 12:1, 2
Forasmuch ... as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind. I Pet. 4:1

The Love of Christ

2011-07-06T08:44:00.000-07:00

The love of Christ constraineth us. II Cor. 5:14
Thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes. Psa. 26:3

The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. Psa. 145:8
Your Father which is in heaven: maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. Matt. 5:45
Be ye ... followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour. Eph. 5:1, 2
Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Eph. 4:32

Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently. I Pet. 1:22

Love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Luke 6:35, 36

In The Day Of Trouble

2011-07-03T14:56:00.000-07:00

Psalm 27:4-5One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.

For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.

Your Loved Ones

2011-06-23T09:59:00.000-07:00

- ACTS 16:31

Your loved ones are very safe in My Keeping. Learning and loving and working, theirs is a life of happiness and progress. They live to serve, and serve they truly do. They serve Me and those they love. Ceaselessly they serve.

But their ministrations, so many, so diverse, you see no more than those in My time on earth in human form could have seen the angels who ministered unto Me in the wilderness.

How often mortals rush to earthly friends who can serve them in so limited a way, when the friends who are freed from the limitations of humanity can serve them so much better, understand better, protect better, plan better, and even plead better their cause with Me.

You do well to remember your friends in the Unseen. Companying with them the more you live in this Unseen World the gentler will be your passing when it comes. Earth's troubles and difficulties will seem, even now, less overwhelming as you look, not at the things that are seen but at the real, the Eternal Life.

"And this is Life Eternal that we may know Thee, the Only True God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent."

Learning to know Me draws that Kingdom very near, and in Me, and through Knowledge of Me, the dear ones there become very near and dear."Your loved ones are very save in My keeping."

-God Calling Devotions

In The Steps Of Jesus

2011-06-21T06:22:00.003-07:00

Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps. I Pet. 2:21
Even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister. Mark 10:45

Whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. Mark 10:44
Jesus of Nazareth ... went about doing good. Acts 10:38

Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Gal. 6:2
The meekness and gentleness of Christ. II Cor. 10:1

In lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Phil. 2:3
Father, forgive them: for they know not what they do. Luke 23:34

Be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Eph. 4:32
He that saith he abideth in him, ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. I John 2:6

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb. 12:2

Sleep In Peace

2011-06-20T07:14:00.001-07:00

Thou compassest my path and my lying down. Psa 139:3
Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. Gen. 28:16, 17
The eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. II Chron. 16:9
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only, makest me dwell in safety. Psa. 4:8
Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. Psa. 91:9-11
When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. Prov. 3:24
So he giveth his beloved sleep. Psa. 127:2

Access To God

2011-06-18T09:51:00.001-07:00

Thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark, and there I will meet with thee. Exo. 25:21, 22
The way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest. Heb. 9:8

Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. Matt. 27:50, 51
Having ... brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; ... let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Heb. 10:19, 20, 22

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Heb. 4:16
Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation [mercy seat] through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. Rom. 3:24, 25
Through him we . . . have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Eph. 2:18

God's Love

2011-06-16T07:46:00.000-07:00

For I am convinced that neither death nor life,
neither angels nor demons,
neither the present nor the future,
nor any powers,
neither height nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from
the love of God that is
in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(Romans 8:38-39)

Trophies of His Love

2011-06-10T05:19:00.000-07:00

Trophies of His Love

I am God’s child (John 1:12)

I belong to God (1 Corinthians 6:20)

I have been justified (Romans 5:1)

I am Christ’s friend (John 15:15)

I am a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20)

I am chosen before the creation of the world (Ephesians 1:4, 11)

I am holy and blameless (Ephesians 1:4)

I am adopted as his child (Ephesians 1:5)

I am victorious (1 Corinthians 15:57)

I am born again (I Peter 1:23)

I am a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)

I am delivered (Colossians 1:13)

I am set free (Romans 8:2; John 8:32)

I have been brought near to God through Christ’s blood (Ephesians 2:13)

I have peace (Ephesians 2:14)

I have access to the Father (Ephesians 2:18)

I am a member of God’s household (Ephesians 2:19)

I am secure (Ephesians 2:20)

I can approach God with freedom and confidence (Ephesians 3:12

--author unknown

Bible Pledge

2011-06-08T08:53:00.000-07:00

I pledge allegiance to the Bible,
God’s Holy Word,
and will make it a lamp unto my feet,
a light unto my path
and hide its words in my heart
that I may not sin
against God.

Let God

2011-06-08T08:51:00.000-07:00

As for God, His way is perfect! Psalm 18:30

Let God choose for you, it will be the right decision.
Let God guide you, it will be the right direction.
Let God plan for you, it will be in the right timing.
Let God measure for you, it will be the right portion.
Let God help you, it will be the right care.
Let God instruct you, it will be the right teaching.
Let God prepare you, it will be the right training.
Let God counsel you, it will be the right perspective.
Let God fight for you, it will be the right outcome.
Let God work in you, it will be the right result.

Three Trees

2011-05-07T15:29:00.000-07:00

Recieved this in an email today.
Three Trees
Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, 'Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty.'
Then the second tree said, 'Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take Kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull.'
Finally the third tree said, 'I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest Tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me.'
After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, 'This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter, 'and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.
At the second tree the woodsman said, 'This looks like a strong tree.. I should be able to sell it to the shipyard.' The second tree was happy Because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.
When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, 'I don't need anything special from my tree, I'll take this one,' and he cut it down.
When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for.
The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end.
The third tree was cut into large pieces, and left alone in the dark.
The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams.
Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.
Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and He stood and said 'Peace' and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.
Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.
The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, God will give you great gifts.
Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined.
We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His Ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.
Please keep this moving... Pass it on, so God may inspire more people on The Way.
May your day be blessed. And until we meet again, may God cradle you in the palm of His hand.

Fasting Tips

2011-05-04T06:39:00.000-07:00

Some practical tips for those considering a fast:

Be led of the Spirit, of course, and drink plenty of water.

If you are diabetic, etc., fast something you really enjoy eating.

To quote Rev. Kenneth E. Hagin from his book A COMMONSENSE GUIDE TO FASTING, "There are no instructions given to the Church to tell them to fast or not to fast.

The records we have in Acts show that the apostles ministered to the Lord and fasted, and it seems the Lord would be pleased if we would set aside some time just to minister to Him." Spend the time you would normally be eating in prayer and Bible reading.

-Debbie

The U in Jesus

2011-04-25T16:13:00.001-07:00

Before U were thought of or time had begun,
God even stuck U in the name of His Son.
And each time U pray, you'll see it's true
You can't spell out JesUs and not include U.
You're a pretty big part of His wonderful name,
For U, He was born; that's why He came.
And His great love for U is the reason He died.
It even takes U to spell crUcified.
Isn't it thrilling and splendidly grand
He arose from the dead, with U in His plan.
The stones split away, the gold trUmpet blew,
and this word resUrrection is even spelled with a U.
When JesUs left earth at His Upward ascension,
He felt there was one thing He just had to mention.
"Go into the world and tell them it's true
That I love them all-
Just like I love U.
-Author Unkown

WHERE WE'LL NEVER GROW OLD

2011-04-14T08:40:00.000-07:00

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
-Revelation 21:

JIM REEVES SINGS THIS BEAUTIFUL SONG ON VIDEO.

SUPPOSE THERE IS NO HELL

2011-04-13T13:52:00.000-07:00

William Elbert Munsey
1833 - 1877

We need more men like Munsey! He died in 1877 in Jonesboro, Tennessee, burning himself out at age forty-four.-http://www.swordofthelord.com/biographies/MunseyWilliamElbert.htm

A sermon by William Elbert Munsey, a preacher of the 1800's, he brings up this supposition. He has a very picturesque description:

"Now suppose there is no Hell. Suppose the soul in no special or particular place of misery, but simply lost—flung by the power of God beyond creation's boundaries into immeasurable wastes of night, where no world ever rolled in sight, no ray of light ever penciled an image, no word or sound ever wandered, and over whose expanse no angel ever flew.

See it traversing the darkness, and threading the inky abysms in search of worlds, in search of heaven, in search of something where there is nothing visible, tangible, or ponderable—in search of something beside itself.

Saints commune with saints, angels with angels, and they all commune with God: but this soul, sympathetic and social in the very construction of its being, its state changed and not its constitutional nature, is eternally isolated from everything like itself, and plunged into an ocean of darkness interminable to its flagging wing, where no sight or sound will ever greet its aching sense, and doomed to wander in the pathless void while cycles roll and ages go grinding on.

See it careering in its bewildered flight. It has crossed its track a thousand times, and recrossed it. It is lost! lost! beyond the power of finding. It knows it. It feels it, but still it flies, now advancing, now regressing. It turns, and turns again, and lo! a blush of dusky light—a stupendous arch of massive bend, and a temple grand in its darkness, with dusky gates and dingy towers, greets its vision. It fain would scale the loftiest turret—it soars, it hovers, but oh, horror of horrors! temple, gates, and towers melt away into darker gloom, and it is left in awful loneliness hanging in agony, but a speck of quivering terror in untenanted and unilluminated space. Shall it ascend, descend, or move off on a level?

There are no ups or downs, or recumbent planes where there is nothing. If ups, and downs, and planes there are, it may soar up, up, up, forever, or dip down, down, down, forever, or rush on, on, on, forever it is still, and through all eternity a lost soul.

See it yonder, yonder, yonder. It goes that way: LOST! lost! Lost! It comes this way, shrieking lost! lost! lost! till our hearts stand still with horror.

Scream on, and fly on, cursed and ruined spirit : no battlemented walls of towering jasper will ever meet thy gaze, or furnish a resting-place for thy weary pinion. Fly on, lost soul, forever, no angel of mercy will ever cross thy solitary way, or overtake thee in thy wanderings. Lost spirits! blackened with the curse of thy God, fly on, and repeat in despairing cry the chorus of thine own horrible death-march, lost, lost, where no echoes will ever mock thy misery.

Immortal soul! lost in boundless, bottomless, infinite darkness, fly on, thou shalt never find company till the ghost of eternity will greet you over the grave of God, and thou shalt never find rest till thou art able to fold thy wings on the gravestone of thy Maker."

CRIES FROM THE CROSS

2011-04-13T13:46:00.000-07:00

7 CRIES FROM THE CROSS

(Following are words that Jesus uttered while hanging on the cross.)

1. Father, Forgive Them
(Luke 23:34) – His heart toward his enemies.

2. This Day You Will Be with Me in Paradise
(Luke 23:43) – His assurance to the repentant.

3. Woman, Behold Your Son
(John 19:26-27) – His care for his family.

4. My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?
(Mark 15:34) – His desire for his Father.

5. I Thirst
(John 19:28) – His expression of his humanity.

6. It Is Finished
(John 19:30) – His declaration of a completed mission.

7. Father, Into Your Hands I Commit My Spirit
(Luke 23:46) – His surrender and entrance to His Father's presence.

ENJOY THE SONG FROM THE ISAACS, CALLED CRY FROM THE CROSS

The Answer On The Way

2011-04-11T14:55:00.000-07:00

THE ANSWER'S ON THE WAY

1st verse:
Many times I'm bowed beneath a heavy load.
On bended knees to God a prayer I prayed.
As I knelt there on the floor.
He reminded me once more.
That the answer was already on the way.

Oh yes THE ANSWER'S ON THE WAY THIS I KNOW
JESUS SAID IT I BELIEVE IT AND IT'S SO
OUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS OUR NEEDS BEFORE WE PRAY
AND WE CAN REST ASSURED THE ANSWER'S ON THE WAY

2nd verse
Our Heavenly father is no respecter in this world.
For whosoever will his word does say.
If to him you take your trouble, your blessings he will double
And you'll know then the answers on the way.

3rd verse:
IF THERES A SPECIAL NEED IN YOUR LIFE \MY FRIEND
AND YOUR SEEKING FOR AN ANSWER EVERYDAY
IF BY FAITH YOU;LL START BELIEVING
MIGHTY SOON YOU’LL BE RECEIVING
FOR THE ANSWER IS ALREADY ON THE WAY

Wedding Music

2011-04-09T06:10:00.000-07:00

wedding music --- http://youtu.be/p-R57HfrhvE

by Crystal River QuartetIs that wedding music I hear?
The bride’s adorned and ready to appear;
There’s heavenly preparation for the wedding celebration,
Is that wedding music that I hear?

The family is preparing for a wedding,
All have been invited to attend;
The bride is standing ready waiting for the signal,
When the Groom says rise my children come on in.

Is that wedding music I hear?
The bride’s adorned and ready to appear;
There’s heavenly preparation for the wedding celebration,
Is that wedding music that I hear?

Soon we’ll rise to leave this land of sorrow,
For that ceremony in the air;
The Father then will lead us thru the Holy land of splendor,
Have you made your preparation to go there?

Is that wedding music I hear?
The bride’s adorned and ready to appear;
There’s heavenly preparation for the wedding celebration,
Is that wedding music that I hear?

There’s heavenly preparation for a wedding celebration
Is that wedding music?
Oh, is that wedding music that I hear?

Guidance

2011-04-06T06:12:00.001-07:00

Guidance from God

Be anxious for nothing. Phil. 4:6,7
We have to live by faith and not by sight. 2 Cor. 5:7

In fact He will not be pleased with us if we give up our faith. Heb. 11:6
If God be for us who can be against us. Rom. 8:31

We have to believe He will do what His Word says he will do. Num. 23:19
So as a man thinketh in his heart so is he. Proverbs 23:7

Being Faithful

2011-03-26T12:19:00.000-07:00

The kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods ... to every man according to his several ability. Matt. 2:14, 15
Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey? Rom. 6:16
All these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. I Cor. 12:11, 7
As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. I Pet. 4:10
It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. I Cor. 4:2
Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. Luke 12:48
Who is sufficient for these things? II Cor. 2:16
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Phil. 4:13

SIGNS OF THE TIME

2011-03-21T09:36:00.000-07:00

Just Like The Bible Says:

"Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights..." Luke 21:10-11

“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth..." Luke 21: 25

"For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now." Romans 8:22

“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near." Luke 21:20

The Bible Stands

2011-03-15T06:01:00.000-07:00

The Bible stands like a rock undaunted

Mid the raging storms of time;

It's pages burn with the truth eternal,

And they glow with a light sublime.

The Bible stands every test we give It,
For Its Author is divine;

By grace alone I expect to live It,

And to prove It and make It mine! The Bible stands like a mountain towering

Far above the works of men;

Its truth by none ever was refuted,

And destroy it they never can!

The Bible stands though the hills may tumble

It will firmly stand when the Earth shall crumble

I will plant my feet on Its firm foundation

For the Bible stands.

Words and Music by: Haldor Lillenas 1885-1959

Here Is Love

2011-03-14T12:45:00.001-07:00

Here is love vast as the ocean,
Lovingkindness as a flood
When the Prince of Life, our ransom,
Shed for us His precious blood.
Here is love. Lord, we remember.
From our hearts we lift Your praise,
Raising high the living anthem
All will sing through endless days.
On the mount of crucifixion
Fountains opened deep and wide.
Through the floodgates of Your mercy
Flowed a vast and gracious tide.
Here is love like mighty rivers
Poured unceasing from above.
Heaven's peace and perfect justice
Kissed a guilty world in love.
O what love! Great love!
Dying Lord, what love!
Here is love vast as the ocean,
Lovingkindness as a flood
When the Prince of Life, our ransom,
Shed for us His precious blood.
Here is love. Lord, we remember.
From our hearts we lift Your praise,
Raising high the living anthem
All will sing through endless days. - by William Rees

Many Mansions

2011-03-12T06:29:00.000-08:00

A Sermon by Jonathan Edwards
[Sermon Date: "The Sabbath after the seating of the New Meeting House, Dec 25, 1737."]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John 14:2 -- In My Father's house are many mansions.

IN these words may be observed two things,

1. The thing described, viz., Christ's Father's house. Christ spoke to his disciples in the foregoing chapter as one that was about to leave them. He told 'em, verse 31, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him," and then goes to giving of them counsel to live in unity and love one another, as one that was going from them. By which they seemed somewhat surprised and hardly knew what to make of it. And one of them, viz., Peter, asked him where he was going; verse 36, "Simon Peter said unto him, Lord whither goest thou?" Christ did not directly answer and tell him where he was going, but he signifies where in these words afterwards, in the verse 12, he tells 'em plainly that he was going to his Father.

2. We may observe the description given of it, viz., that in it there are many mansions. The disciples seemed very sorrowful at the news of Christ's going away, but Christ comforts 'em with that, that in his Father's house where he was going there was not only room for him, but room for them too. There were many mansions. There was not only a mansion there for him, but there were mansions enough for them all; there was room enough in heaven for them. When the disciples perceived that Christ was going away, they manifested a great desire to go with him, and particularly Peter. Peter in the latter part of the foregoing chapter asked him whither he went to that end that he might follow him. Christ told him that whither he went he could not follow him now, but that he should follow him afterwards. But Peter, not content with Christ, seemed to have a great mind to follow him now. "Lord," says he, "why cannot I follow thee now?" So that the disciples had a great mind still to be with Christ, and Christ in the words of the text intimates that they shall be with him. Christ signifies to 'em that he was going home to his Father's house, and he encourages 'em that they shall be with him there in due time, in that there were many mansions there. There was a mansion provided not only for him, but for them all (for Judas was not then present), and not only for them, but for all that should ever believe in him to the end of the world; and though he went before, he only went to prepare a place for them that should follow.

The text is a plain sentence; 'tis therefore needless to press any doctrine in other words from it: so that I shall build my discourse on the words of the text. There are two propositions contained in the words, viz.,

I. that heaven is God's house, and

II. that in this house of God there are many mansions.

Prop. I. Heaven is God's house. An house of public worship is an house where God's people meet from time to time to attend on God's ordinances, and that is set apart for that and is called God's house. The temple of Solomon was called God's house. God was represented as dwelling there. There he has his throne in the holy of holies, even the mercy seat over the ark and between the cherubims.

Sometimes the whole universe is represented in Scripture as God's house, built with various stories one above another: Amos 9:6, "It is he that buildeth his stories in the heaven;" and Psalm 104:3, "Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters." But the highest heaven is especially represented in Scripture as the house of God. As to other parts of the creation, God hath appointed them to inferior uses; but this part he has reserved for himself for his own abode. We are told that the heavens are the Lord's, but the earth he hath given to the sons of men. God, though he is everywhere present, is represented both in Old Testament and New as being in heaven is a special and peculiar manner. Heaven is the temple of God. Thus we read of God's temple in heaven, Revelation 15:5. Solomon's temple was a type of heaven. The apostle Paul is his epistle to the Hebrews does from time to time call heaven the holy of holies, as being the antitype not only of the temple of Solomon, but of the most holy place in that temple, which was the place of God's most immediate residence: Hebrews 9:12, "He entered in once into the holy place;" verse 24, "For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true, but into heaven itself." Houses where assemblies of Christians worship God are in some respects figures of this house of God above. When God is worshipped in them in spirit and truth, they become the outworks of heaven and as it were its gates. As in houses of public worship here there are assemblies of Christians meeting to worship God, so in heaven there is a glorious assembly, or Church, continually worshipping God: Hebrews 12:22,23, "But ye are come unto mount Sion, [and unto] the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, that are written in heaven."

Heaven is represented in Scripture as God's dwelling-house; Psalm 113:5, "Who is like [unto] the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high," and Psalm 123:1, "Unto thee I lift up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens." Heaven is God's palace. 'Tis the house of the great King of the universe; there he has his throne, which is therefore represented as his house or temple; Psalm 11:4, "The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord's throne is in heaven."

Heaven is the house where God dwells with his family. God is represented in Scripture as having a family; and though some of this family are now on earth, yet in so being they are abroad and not at home, but all going home: Ephesians 3:15, "Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named." Heaven is the place that God has built for himself and his children. God has many children, and the place designed for them is heaven; therefore the saints, being the children of God, are said to be of the household of God, Ephesians 2:19: "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God." God is represented as a householder or head of a family, and heaven is his house.

Heaven is the house not only where God hath his throne, but also where he doth as it were keep his table, where his children sit down with him at his table and where they are feasted in a royal manner becoming the children of so great a King: Luke 22:30, "That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom;" Matthew 26:29, "But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."

God is the King of kings, and heaven is the place where he keeps his court. There are his angels and archangels that as the nobles of his court do attend upon him.

Prop. II. There are many mansions in the house of God. By many mansions is meant many seats or places of abode. As it is a king's palace, there are many mansions. Kings' houses are wont to be built very large, with many stately rooms and apartments. So there are many mansions in God's house.

When this is spoken of heaven, it is chiefly to be understood in a figurative sense, and the following things seem to be taught us in it.

1. There is room in this house of God for great numbers. There is room in heaven for a vast multitude, yea, room enough for all mankind that are or ever shall be; Luke 14:22, "Lord it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room."

It is not with the heavenly temple as it often is with houses of public worship in this world, that they fill up and become too small and scanty for those that would meet in them, so that there is not convenient room for all. There is room enough in our heavenly Father's house. This is partly what Christ intended in the words of the text, as is evident from the occasion of his speaking them. The disciples manifested a great desire to be where Christ was, and Christ therefore, to encourage them that it should be as they desired, tells them that in his Father's house where he was going were many mansions, i.e., room enough for them.

There is mercy enough in God to admit an innumerable multitude into heaven. There is mercy enough for all, and there is merit enough in Christ to purchase heavenly happiness for millions of millions, for all men that ever were, are or shall be. And there is a sufficiency in the fountain of heaven's happiness to supply and fill and satisfy all: and there is in all respects enough for the happiness of all.

2. There are sufficient and suitable accommodations for all the different sorts of persons that are in the world: for great and small, for high and low, rich and poor, wise and unwise, bond and free, persons of all nations and all conditions and circumstances, for those that have been great sinners as well as for moral livers; for weak saints and those that are babes in Christ as well as for those that are stronger and more grown in grace. There is in heaven a sufficiency for the happiness of every sort; there is a convenient accommodation for every creature that will hearken to the calls of the Gospel. None that will come to Christ, let his condition be what it will, need to fear but that Christ will provide a place suitable for him in heaven.

This seems to be another thing implied in Christ's words. The disciples were persons of very different condition from Christ: he was their Master, and there were his disciples; he was their Lord, and there were the servants; he was their Guide, and they were the followers; he was their Captain, and they the soldiers; he was the Shepherd, and they the sheep; [he was, as it were, the] Father, [and they the] children; he was the glorious, holy Son of God, they were the poor, sinful, corrupt men. But yet, though they were in such different circumstances from him, yet Christ encourages them that there shall not only be room in heaven for him, but for them too; for there were many mansions there. There was not only a mansion to accommodate the Lord, but the disciples also; not only the head, but the members; not only the Son of God, but those that are naturally poor, sinful, corrupt men: as in a king's palace there is not only a mansion or room of state built for the king himself and for his eldest son and heir, but there are many rooms, mansions for all his numerous household, children, attendants and servants.

3. It is further implied that heaven is a house that was actually built and prepared for a great multitude. When God made heaven in the beginning of the world, he intended it for an everlasting dwelling-place for a vast and innumerable multitude. When heaven was made , it was intended and prepared for all those particular persons that God had from eternity designed to save: Matthew 25:34, "Come, ye blessed [of my Father, inherit the Kingdom] prepared for you [from the foundation of the world]." And that is a very great and innumerable multitude: Revelation 7:9, "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and peoples, and tongues, stood before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes." Heaven being built designedly for these was built accordingly; it was built so as most conveniently to accommodate all this multitude: as a house that is built for a great family is built large and with many rooms in it; as a palace that is built for a great king that keeps a great court with many attendants is built exceeding great with a great many apartments; and as an house of public worship that is built for a great congregation is built very large with many seats in it.

4. When it is said, ["In my father's house are many mansions"], it is meant that there are seats of various dignity and different degrees and circumstances of honor and happiness. There are many mansions in God's house because heaven is intended for various degrees of honor and blessedness. Some are designed to sit in higher places there than others; some are designed to be advanced to higher degrees of honor and glory than others are; and, therefore, there are various mansions, and some more honorable mansions and seats, in heaven than others. Though they are all seats of exceeding honor and blessedness yet some are more so than others.

Thus a palace is built. Though every part of the palace is magnificent as becomes the palace of a king, yet there are many apartments of various honor, and some are more stately and costly than others, according to the degree of dignity. There is one apartment that is the king's presence-chamber; there are other apartments for the next heir to the crown; there are others for other children; and others for their attendants and the great officers of the household: one for the high steward, and another for the chamberlain, and others for meaner officers and servants.

Another image of this was in Solomon's temple. There were many mansions of different degrees of honor and dignity. There was the holy of holies, where the ark was that was the place of God's immediate residence, where the high priest alone might come; and there was another apartment called the holy place, where the other priests might come; and next to that was the inner court of the temple, where the Levites were admitted: and there they had many chambers or mansions built for lodging-rooms for the priests; and next to that was the court of Israel where the people of Israel might come; and next to that was the court of the Gentiles where the Gentiles, those that were called the "Proselytes of the Gate," might come.

And we have an image of this in houses built for the worship of Christian assemblies. In such houses of God there are many seats of different honor and dignity, from the most honorable to the most inferior of the congregation.

Not that we are to understand the words of Christ so much in a literal sense, as that every saint in heaven was to have a certain seat or room or place of abode where he was to be locally fixed. 'Tis not the design of the Scriptures to inform us much about the external circumstances of heaven or the state of heaven locally considered; but we are to understand what Christ says chiefly in a spiritual sense. Persons shall be set in different degrees of honor and glory in heaven, as is abundantly manifested in Scripture: which may fitly be represented to our imaginations by there being different seats of honor, as it was in the temple, as it is in kings' courts. Some seats shall be nearer the throne than others. Some shall sit next to Christ in glory: Matthew 20:23, "To sit on my right hand and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father."

Christ has doubtless respect to these different degrees of glory in the text. When he was going to heaven and the disciples were sorrowful at the thoughts of parting with their Lord, he lets them know that there are seats or mansions of various degrees of honor in his Father's house, that there was not only one for him, who was the Head of the Church and the elder brother, but also for them that were his disciples and younger brethren.

Christ also may probably have respect not only to different degrees of glory in heaven, but different circumstances. Though the employment and happiness of all the heavenly assembly shall in the general be the same, yet 'tis not improbable that there may be circumstantial difference. We know what their employment [is] in general, but not in particular. We know not how one may be employed to subserve and promote the happiness of another, and all to help one another. Some may there be set in one place for one office or employment, and others [in] another, as 'tis in the Church on earth. God hath set every one in the body as it hath pleased him; one is the eye, another the ear, another the head, etc. But because God has not been pleased expressly to reveal how it shall be in this respect, therefore I shall not insist upon it, but pass to make some

IMPROVEMENT of what has been offered.
I. Here is encouragement for sinners that are concerned and exercised for the salvation of their souls, such as are afraid that they shall never go to heaven or be admitted to any place of abode there, and are sensible that they are hitherto in a doleful state and condition in that they are out of Christ, and so have no right to any inheritance in heaven, but are in danger of going to hell and having their place of eternal abode fixed there. You may be encouraged by what has been said, earnestly to seek heaven; for there are many mansions there. There is room enough there. Let your case be what it will, there is suitable provision there for you; and if you come to Christ, you need not fear that he will prepare a place for you; he'll see to it that you shall be well accommodated in heaven.

But II. I would improve this doctrine in a twofold exhortation.

1. Let all be hence exhorted earnestly to seek that they may be admitted to a mansion in heaven. You have heard that this is God's house; it is his temple. If David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah and in the land of Geshur and of the Philistines, so longed that he might again return into the land of Israel that he might have a place in the house of God here on earth, and prized a place there so much, though it was but that of a door-keeper, how great a happiness will it be to have a place in this heavenly temple of God! If they are looked upon as enjoying a high privilege that have a seat appointed them in kings' courts or in apartments in kings' palaces, especially those that have an abode there in the quality of the king's children, then how great a privilege will it be to have an apartment or mansion assigned to us in God's heavenly palace, and to have a place there as his children! How great is their glory and honor that are admitted to be of the household of God!

And seeing there are many mansions there, mansions enough for us all, our folly will be the greater if we neglect to seek a place in heaven, having our minds foolishly taken up about the worthless, fading things of this world. Here consider three things:

(1) How little a while you can have any mansion or place of abode in this world. Now you have a dwelling amongst the living. You have a house or mansion of your own, or at least one that is at present for your use, and now you have a seat in the house of God; but how little a while will this continue! In a very little while, and the place that now knows you in this world will know you no more. The habitation you have here will be empty of you; you will be carried dead out of it, or shall die at a distance from it, and never enter into it any more, or into any other abode in this world. Your mansion or place of abode in this world, however convenient or commodious it may be, is but as a tent that shall soon be taken down, but a lodge in a garden of cucumbers. Your stay is as it were but for a night. Your body itself is but a house of clay which will quickly moulder and tumble down, and you shall have no other habitation here in this world but the grave.

Thus God in his providence is putting you in mind by the repeated instances of death that have been in the town within the two weeks past, both in one house: in which death he has shown his dominion over old and young. The son was taken away first before the father, being in his full strength and flower of his days; and the father, who was then well and having no appearance of approaching death, followed in a few days: and their habitation and their seat in the house of God in this world will know them no more.

Take warning by these warnings of Providence to improve your time that you may have a mansion in heaven. We have a house of worship newly created amongst us which now you have a seat in, and probably are pleased with the ornaments of it; and though you have a place in so comely a house, yet you know not how little a while you shall have a place in this house of God. Here are a couple snatched away by death that had met in it but a few times, that have been snatched out of it before it was fully finished and never will have any more a seat in it. You know not how soon you may follow, and then of great importance will it be to you to have a seat in God's house above. Both of the persons lately deceased were much on their death-beds warning others to improve their precious time. The first of them was much in expressing his sense of the vast importance of an interest in Christ, as I was a witness, and was earnest in calling on others to improve their time, to be thorough, to get an interest in Christ, and seemed very desirous that young people might receive council and warning from him, as the words of a dying man, to do their utmost to make sure of conversion; and a little before he died left a request to me that I would warn the young people in his room. God had been warning of you in his death and the death of his father that so soon followed. The words of dying persons should be of special weight with us, for then they are in circumstances wherein they are most capable to look on things as they are and judge aright of 'em,--between both worlds as it were. Still that we must all be in.

Let our young people, therefore, take warning from hence, and don't be such fools as to neglect seeking a place and mansion in heaven. Young persons are especially apt to be taken with the pleasing things of this world. You are now, it may be, much pleased with hopes of your future circumstances in this world; [and you are now, it may be, much] pleased with the ornaments of that house of worship that you with others have a place in. But, alas, do you not too little consider how soon you may be taken away from all these things, and no more forever have any part in any mansion or house or enjoyment or happiness under the sun? Therefore let it be your main care to secure an everlasting habitation for hereafter.

(2) Consider when you die, if you have no mansion in the house of God in heaven, you must have your place of abode in the habitation of devils. There is no middle place between them, and when you go hence, you must go to one or the other of these. Some have a mansion prepared for them in heaven from the foundation [of the world]; others are sent away as cursed into everlasting burnings prepared for the [devil and his angels]. Consider how miserable those must be that shall have their habitation with devils to all eternity. Devils are foul spirits; God's great enemies. Their habitation is the blackness of darkness; a place of the utmost filthiness, abomination, darkness, disgrace and torment, O, how would you rather ten thousand times have no place of abode at all, have no being, than to have a place [with devils]!

(3) If you die unconverted, you will have the worse place in hell for having had a seat or place in God's house in this world. As there are many mansions, places of different degrees of honor in heaven, so there are various abodes and places or degrees of torment and misery in hell; and those will have the worst place there that [dying unconverted, have had the best place in God's house here]. Solomon speaks of a peculiarly awful sight that he had seen, that of a wicked man buried that had gone [from the place of the holy], Ecclesiastes 8:10. Such as have had a seat in God's house, have been in a sense exalted up to heaven, set on the gate of heaven, [if they die unconverted, shall be] cast down to hell.

2. The second exhortation that I would offer from what has been said is to seek a high place in heaven. Seeing there are many mansions of different degrees of honor and dignity in heaven, let us seek to obtain a mansion of distinguished glory. 'Tis revealed to us that there are different degrees of glory to that end that we might seek after the higher degrees. God offered high degrees of glory to that end, that we might seek them by eminent holiness and good works: 2 Corinthians 9:6, "He that sows sparingly [shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully]." It is not becoming persons to be over anxious about an high seat in God's house in this world, for that is the honor that is of men; but we can't too earnestly seek after an high seat in God's house above, by seeking eminent holiness, for that is the honor that is of God.

'Tis very little worth the while for us to pursue after honor in this world, where the greatest honor is but a bubble and will soon vanish away, and death will level all. Some have more stately houses than others, and some are in higher office than others, and some are richer than others and have higher seats in the meeting-house than others; but all graves are upon a level. One rotting, putrefying corpse is as ignoble as another; the worms are as bold with one carcass as another.

But the mansions in God's house above are everlasting mansions. Those that have seats allotted 'em there, whether of greater or lesser dignity, whether nearer or further from the throne, will hold 'em to all eternity. This is promised, Revelation 3:12 :"Him that overcometh I will make him a pillar in the temple [of my God, and he shall go no more out]." If it be worth the while to desire and seek high seats in the meeting-house, where you are one day in a week, and where you shall never come but few days in all; if it be worth the while much to prize one seat above another in the house of worship only because it is the pew or seat that is ranked first in number, and to be seen here for a few days, how will it be worth the while to seek an high mansion in God's temple and in that glorious place that is the everlasting habitation of God and all his children! You that are pleased with your seats in this house because you are seated high or in a place that is looked upon honorable by those that sit round about, and because many can behold you, consider how short a time you will enjoy this pleasure. And if there be any that are not suited in their seats because they are too low for them, let them consider that it is but a very little while before it will [be] all one to you whether you have sat high or low here. But it will be of infinite and everlasting concern to you where your seat is in another world. Let your great concern be while in this world so to improve your opportunities in God's house in this world, whether you sit high or low, as that you may have a distinguished and glorious mansion in God's house in heaven, where you may be fixed in your place in that glorious assembly in an everlasting rest.

Let the main thing that we prize in God's house be, not the outward ornaments of it, or a high seat in it, but the word of God and his ordinances in it. And spend your time here in seeking Christ, that he may prepare a place for you in his Father's house, that when he comes again to this world, he may take you to himself, that where he is, there you may be also.
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[From Selected Sermons of Jonathan Edwards, edited with introduction and notes by H. Horman Gardiner, New York, The Macmillan Company, 1904.]
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-Christian Ethereal Library

THE FINAL INSPECTION

2011-03-11T15:41:00.001-08:00

The Marine stood and faced God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.
"Step forward now, Marine,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"
The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't.
Because those of us who carry guns,
Can't always be a saint.
I've had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny,
That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
When the bills got just too steep.
And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God, forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place,
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
Except to calm their fears
If you've a place for me here, Lord,
It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand.
There was a silence all around the throne,
Where the saints had often trod.
As the Marine waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, you Marine,
You've borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."
~Author Unknown~

Please pray for our men and women
Who have served and are currently serving our
country. And pray for those who have given the ultimate
sacrifice for freedom.

The Remnant

2011-03-10T16:23:00.000-08:00

Jeremiah 23:3-8 (New King James Version)

3 “But I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all countries where I have driven them, and bring them back to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. 4 I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor shall they be lacking,” says the LORD.
5 “ Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD,

“ That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness;
A King shall reign and prosper,
And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.
6 In His days Judah will be saved,
And Israel will dwell safely;
Now this is His name by which He will be called:

THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS

7 “Therefore, behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “that they shall no longer say, ‘As the LORD lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt,’ 8 but, ‘As the LORD lives who brought up and led the descendants of the house of Israel from the north country and from all the countries where I had driven them.’ And they shall dwell in their own land.”

Valley of Dry Bones

2011-03-10T16:21:00.001-08:00

Ezekiel 37:1-28 (New King James Version)

Ezekiel 37
The Dry Bones Live
1 The hand of the LORD came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. 2 Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. 3 And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
So I answered, “O Lord GOD, You know.”
4 Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! 5 Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. 6 I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.”’”
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.
9 Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”’” 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.
11 Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13 Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. 14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it,” says the LORD.’”

One Kingdom, One King

15 Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 16 “As for you, son of man, take a stick for yourself and write on it: ‘For Judah and for the children of Israel, his companions.’ Then take another stick and write on it, ‘For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel, his companions.’ 17 Then join them one to another for yourself into one stick, and they will become one in your hand.
18 “And when the children of your people speak to you, saying, ‘Will you not show us what you mean by these?’— 19 say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Surely I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions; and I will join them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand.”’ 20 And the sticks on which you write will be in your hand before their eyes.
21 “Then say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; 22 and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again. 23 They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. Then they shall be My people, and I will be their God.
24 “David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them. 25 Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children’s children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever. 26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore. 27 My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 28 The nations also will know that I, the LORD, sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.

Fall of Lucifer

2011-03-10T16:19:00.001-08:00

Isaiah 14:12-15 (New King James Version)

The Fall of Lucifer
12 “ How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer,[a] son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!
13 For you have said in your heart:

‘ I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’
15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol,
To the lowest depths of the Pit.

Scriptures

2011-03-10T16:07:00.000-08:00

READ ABOUT THE THREE DAYS DARKNESS:

Exodus 10:22-23 (King James Version)
22And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days:
23They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
Exodus 10:22-23

Zechariah 4:14 (King James Version)
14Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the LORD of the whole earth.

Amos 3:7 (King James Version)
7Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

THE BRIDEGROOM COMES FOR ONLY .... they that love Him as written in John 14:15-18 They will be accepted, Revelation 12:14-17, Revelation 14:1-12 Revelation 20:6, and
Revelation 22:10-12 + 14.

John 14:15-18 (King James Version)
15If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
-John 14:15-18

Revelation 12:14-17 (New King James Version)
14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. 15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 14:1-12 (New King James Version)
The Lamb and the 144,000
1 Then I looked, and behold, a[a] Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having[b] His Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3 They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed[c] from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no deceit,[d] for they are without fault before the throne of God.

Revelation 20:6 (New King James Version)
6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years

10 And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. 11 He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous[e] still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.”
12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”[f]
14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (New King James Version)

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

Fear God and keep His commandments,
For this is man’s all.
14 For God will bring every work into judgment,
Including every secret thing,
Whether good or evil.

Abraham Land Covenant

2011-03-09T17:04:00.000-08:00

How Much Land Did God Give Israel in the Abraham Land Covenant?

God's Word declares Gaza belongs to Israel:

Joshua narrows it down and tells us that Gaza also belongs to Israel, specifically the tribe of Judah.

This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families. Joshua 15:20 Ashdod with her towns and her villages, Gaza with her towns and her villages, unto the river of Egypt, and the great sea, and the border thereof: Joshua 15:47.

As for the war going on today with the Israelis and the terrorists Hamas who have taken over Gaza, Joshua narrows it down and tells us that Gaza also belongs to Israel, specifically the tribe of Judah.

This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families. Joshua 15:20 Ashdod with her towns and her villages, Gaza with her towns and her villages, unto the river of Egypt, and the great sea, and the border thereof: Joshua 15:47.
READ MORE AT:
from: http://filesfromtoni.blogspot.com/2009/01/how-much-land-did-god-give-israel-in.html

WRESTLING FOR GOD

2011-03-09T16:58:00.000-08:00

'A brisk young man with a ready tongue' was the verdict passed upon Edward Burrough, the hero of this story, by a certain Mr. Thomas Ellwood when he met him first in the year 1659.
Ellwood himself, who thus described his new acquaintance, was a young man too at that time, of good education and scholarly tastes. He became later the friend of a certain Mr. John Milton, who thought sufficiently well of his judgment to allow him to read his poetry before it was published, and to ask him what he thought of it; even, occasionally, to act upon his suggestions. Ellwood, therefore, was clearly the possessor of a sober judgment, and not a likely person to be carried away by the glib words of a wandering preacher. Yet that 'brisk young man,' Edward Burrough, did not only 'reach him' with his 'ready tongue,' he also completely 'convinced' him, and altered his whole life: Ellwood returned to his family ready to suffer hardship if need be on behalf of his newly-found faith.
Ellwood's own adventures, however, do not concern us here, but those of the young man who convinced him.
Edward Burrough was one of the best loved and most valiant of all those 'Valiant Sixty' ministers who went forth throughout the length and breadth of England, in 1654, on their new, wonderful enterprise of 'Publishing Truth.' If Edward Burrough was still 'young and brisk' when Ellwood first came across [242]him, he must have been yet younger and brisker on that summer's day, five years earlier, when he left his home in Westmorland in order to 'conquer London.' This was an ambitious undertaking truly for any man, however brisk and ready of tongue.
It is true that the London of those long-ago days of the Commonwealth, before the Great Fire, was a much more compact city than the gigantic, overgrown London of to-day. Instead of 'sprawling over five or six counties,'[21] and containing six or seven million inhabitants, London was then a comparatively small place, its population, though rapidly increasing, did not yet number one million.
'An old map of the year 1610 shows us that London and Westminster were then two neighbouring cities surrounded by meadows. "Totten Court" was an outlying country village. Oxford Street is marked on this map as "The way to Uxbridge," and runs between meadows and pastures. The Tower, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Church, ... and some other landmarks are indeed there, but it is curious to read the accounts given by the chronicles of the day of its narrow and dirty streets, in which carts and coaches jostled one another, and foot passengers found it difficult to get along at all.... When the King went to Parliament, faggots were thrown into the ruts in the streets through which he passed, to make it easier for his state coach to drive over the uneven roads!'[22]
Nevertheless this gay little countrified town of timbered houses, surrounded by meadows and orchards, and overlooked by the green heights of [243]'Hamsted' and Primrose Hill, was then as now the Capital City of England. And England under Oliver Cromwell was one of the most powerful of the States of Europe.
Therefore if a young man barely out of his teens were to succeed in 'conquering London,' and bending it to his will, he would certainly need all his briskness and readiness of tongue.
Edward Burrough probably entered London alone and on foot, after a journey extending over several weeks. He had left his native Westmorland in company with good John Camm, the 'statesman' farmer of Cammsgill. The first stages of their journey were made on horseback. Many a quiet talk the two men must have had together as they rode through the green lanes of England,—that long-ago England of the Commonwealth, its clear skies unstained by any tall chimneys or factory smoke. There were but few hedgerows then, 'a single hedge is a marked feature in the contemporary maps.'[23] The cornfields stretched away in a broad, unbroken expanse as they do to-day on the Continent of Europe and in the lands of the New World.
As they rode, Camm would tell Burrough, doubtless, of his first sight of George Fox, preaching in Sedbergh Churchyard, under the ancient yew-tree opposite the market cross, on that never-to-be-forgotten day of the Whitsuntide Fair. The story of the 'Wonderful Fortnight' would be sure to follow; of the 'Mighty Meeting' on the Fell outside Firbank Chapel; of the gathering of the Seekers at Preston Patrick; and of yet another open-air meeting, when hundreds [244]of people assembled one memorable First Day near his own hillside farm at Cammsgill.
Then it would be the younger man's turn to tell his tale.
'He was born in the barony of Kendal ... of parents who for their honest and virtuous life were in good repute; he was well educated, and trained up in such learning as that country did afford.... By his parents he was trained up in the episcopal worship,'[24] but for a long time, he says that the only religion that he practised was 'going to church one day in seven to hear a man preach, to read, and sing, and rabble over a prayer.' (It is easy to smile at the old-fashioned word; but let us try to remember it when we ourselves are tempted to get up too late in the morning and 'rabble over' our own prayers.)
Gradually the unseen world grew more real. A beautiful and comforting message was given to him in his heart, 'Whom God once loves, he loves for ever.' Now he grew weary of hearing any of the priests, for he saw they did not possess what they spoke of to others, and sometimes he began to question his own experiences.
Nevertheless he felt it a grievous trial to give up all his prospects of earthly advancement and become a Quaker. Yet from the day he listened to George Fox preaching at Underbarrow there was no other course open to him; though his own parents were much incensed with him for daring to join this despised people. They even refused to acknowledge him any longer as a member of their family. Being rejected as a son, therefore, he begged to be allowed to stay [245]on in his home and work as a servant, but this, too, was refused. Thus being, as he says, 'separated from all the glory of the world, and from all his acquaintance and kindred,' he betook himself to the company of 'a poor, despised people called Quakers.'
It must have been a comfort to him, after being cast off by his own family, to find himself adopted by a still larger family of friends, and to become one of the 'Valiant Sixty' entrusted with the great adventure of Publishing Truth.
Riding along with good John Camm, with talk to beguile the way, was pleasant travelling; but this happy companionship was not to last very long. For as they journeyed and came near the 'Middle Kingdom,' or Midlands, they fell in with another of 'Truth's Publishers.'
This was none other than their Westmorland neighbour, John Audland, 'the ruddy-faced linen-draper of Crosslands,' John Camm's own especial comrade and pair among the 'Sixty.'
It may have been a prearranged plan that they should meet here; anyway Camm turned aside with Audland and went on with him to Bristol, where he had already begun to scatter the seed in the west of England, while Edward Burrough pursued his journey in solitude towards London.[25] But his days of loneliness were not to last for long. Either just before or just after his arrival in the great city, two other [246]Publishers also reached the metropolis, one of whom, Francis Howgill, was to be his own especial comrade and pair in the task of 'conquering London.' This was that same Francis Howgill, a considerably older man than Burrough, and formerly a leader among the Seekers, who had been preaching that memorable day at Firbank when he thought George Fox looked into the Chapel and was so much struck that 'you could have killed him with a crab-apple.' Now that they had come together, however, it would have taken more than many crab-apples to deter him and Burrough from their Mission. Together the two friends laid their plans for the capture of London, and together they proceeded to carry them out. The success they met with was astonishing. 'By the arm of the Lord,' writes Howgill, 'all falls before us, according to the word of the Lord before I came to this City, that all should be as a plain.'
Amidst their engrossing labours in the capital the two London 'Publishers' did not forget to send news of their work to Friends in the North. Many letters written at this time remain. Those to Margaret Fell, especially, give a vivid picture of their progress. These letters are signed sometimes by Howgill, sometimes by Burrough, sometimes by both together. But, whatever the signature, the pronouns 'I' and 'we' are used indiscriminately, as if to show that the writers were not only united in the service of Truth but were also one in heart.
'We two,' they say in one letter, 'are constrained to stay in this city; but we are not alone, for the power of our Father is with us, and it is daily made manifest through weakness, even to the stopping of the [247]mouths of lions and to the confounding of the serpent's wisdom; eternal praises to Him for evermore. In this city, iniquity is grown to the height. We have three meetings or more every week, very large, more than any place will contain, and which we can conveniently meet in. Many of all sorts come to us and many of all sorts are convinced, yea, hundreds do believe....'
Again: 'We get Friends together on the First Days to meet together out of the rude multitude; and we two go to the great meeting place which we have, which will hold a thousand people, which is always nearly filled, there to thresh among the world; and we stay till twelve or one o'clock and then pass away, the one to the one place and the other to another place where Friends are met in private; and stay till four or five o'clock.'
Only a month later yet another 'great place' had to be taken for a 'threshing-floor,' or hall where public meetings could be held. To these meetings anyone might come and listen to the preachers' message, which 'threshed them like grain, and sifted the wheat from the "light chaffy minds" among the hearers.'
How 'chaffy' and frivolous this gay world of London appeared to these first Publishers, consumed with the burning eagerness of their mission, the following description shows. It occurs in a letter from George Fox himself when he, too, came to the metropolis, a few months later.
'What a world this is,' he writes ... 'altogether carried with fooleries and vanities both men and women ... putting on gold, gay apparel, plaiting the [248]hair, men and women they are powdering it, making their backs as if they were bags of meal, and they look so strange that they cannot look at one another. Pride hath puffed up every one, they are out of the fear of God, men and women, young and old, one puffs up another, they are not in the fashion of the world else, they are not in esteem else, they shall not be respected else, if they have not gold and silver upon their backs, or his hair be not powdered. If he have a company of ribbons hung about his waist, red or white, or black or yellow, and about his knees, and gets a Company in his hat, and powders his hair, then he is a brave man, then he is accepted, then he is no Quaker.... Likewise the women having their gold, their spots on their faces, noses, cheeks, foreheads, having their rings on their fingers, wearing gold, having their cuffs doubled under and about like a butcher with white sleeves' (how pretty they must have been!), 'having their ribbons tied about their hands, and three or four gold laces about their clothes, "this is no Quaker," say they.... Now are not all these that have got these ribbons hung about their arms, backs, waists, knees, hats, hands, like unto fiddlers' boys, and shew that you are gotten into the basest contemptible life as be in the fashion of the fiddlers' boys and stage-players, and quite out of the paths and steeps of solid men.... And further to get a pair of breeches like a coat and hang them about with points up almost to the middle, and a pair of double cuffs upon his hands, and a feather in his cap, and to say, "Here's a gentleman, bow before him, put off your hats, bow, get a company of fiddlers, a set of music and women to dance, this is a brave fellow, up in the chamber [249]without and up in the chamber within," are these your fine Christians? "Yea," say they. "Yea but," say the serious people, "they are not of Christ's life." And to see such a company as are in the fashions of the world ... get a couple of bowls in their hands or tables [dice] or shovel-board, or a horse with a Company of ribbons on his head as he hath on his own, and a ring in his ear; and so go to horse-racing to spoil the creature. Oh these are gentlemen, these are bred up gentlemen! these are brave fellows and they must have their recreation, and pleasures are lawful. These are bad Christians and shew that they are gluttoned with the creature and then the flesh rejoiceth!'
No wonder that Edward Burrough wrote to Margaret Fell that 'in this city iniquity is grown to the height,' and again, in a later letter: 'There are hundreds convinced, but not many great or noble do receive our testimony ... we are much refreshed, we receive letters from all quarters, the work goes on fast everywhere.... Richard Hubberthorne is yet in prison and James Parnell at Cambridge.... Our dear brethren John Audland and John Camm we hear from, and we write to one another twice in the week. They are near us, they are precious and the work of the Lord is great in Bristol.'
Margaret Fell writes back in answer, like a true mother in Israel, 'You are all dear unto me, and all are present with me, and are all met together in my heart.'
And now, having heard what the 'Valiant Sixty' thought of London, what did London think of the 'Valiant Sixty'? Many years later a certain William Spurry wrote of these early days: 'I being in London [250]at the time of the first Publication of Truth, there was a report spread in the City that there was a sort of people come there that went by the name of plain North Country plow men, who did differ in judgment to all other people in that City, who I was very desirous to see and converse with. And upon strict enquiry I was informed that they did meet at one Widow Matthews in White Cross Street, in her garden, where I repaired, where was our dear friends Edward Burrough and Francis Howgill, who declared the Lord's everlasting Truth in the demonstration of the Spirit of Life, where myself and many more were convinced. A little time after there was a silent meeting appointed and kept at Sarah Sawyer's in Rainbow Alley.'
Very rural and unlike London these places sound: but meetings were not only held in secluded spots, such as the garden in White Cross Street, and the house in Rainbow Alley, they were also held in the tumultuous centres of Vanity Fair.
'Edward Burrough,' says Sewel the historian, 'though he was a very young man when he first came forth, yet grew in wisdom and valour so that he feared not the face of man.' 'At London there is a custom in summer time, when the evening approaches and tradesmen leave off working, that many lusty fellows meet in the fields, to try their skill and strength at wrestling, where generally a multitude of people stand gazing in a round. Now it so fell out, that Edward Burrough passed by the place where they were wrestling, and standing still among the spectators, saw how a strong and dexterous fellow had already thrown three others, and was now waiting for a fourth champion, if any durst venture to enter the lists. At length [251]none being bold enough to try, E. Burrough stepped into the ring (commonly made up of all sorts of people), and having looked upon the wrestler with a serious countenance, the man was not a little surprised, instead of an airy antagonist, to meet with a grave and awful young man; and all stood amazed at this sight, eagerly expecting what would be the issue of this combat. But it was quite another fight Edward Burrough aimed at. For having already fought against spiritual wickedness, that had once prevailed in him and having overcome it in measure, by the grace of God, he now endeavoured also to fight against it in others, and to turn them from the evil of their ways. With this intention he began very seriously to speak to the standers by, and that with such a heart-piercing power, that he was heard by this mixed multitude with no less attention than admiration; for his speech tended to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God.
'Thus he preached zealously; and though many might look upon this as a novelty, yet it was of such effect that many were convinced of the truth.... And indeed he was one of those valiants, whose bow never turned back ... nay he was such an excellent instrument in the hand of God that even some mighty and eminent men were touched to the heart by the power of the word of life which he preached' ... 'using few words but preaching after a new fashion so that he was called a "son of thunder and also of consolation."'
'Now I come also to the glorious exit of E. Burrough, that valiant hero. For several years he had been very much in London, and had there preached the gospel with piercing and powerful declarations. [252]And that city was so near to him, that oftentimes, when persecution grew hot, he said to Francis Howgill, his bosom friend, "I can go freely to the city of London, and lay down my life for a testimony of that truth, which I have declared through the power and spirit of God." Being in this year [1662] at Bristol, and thereabouts, and moved to return to London, he said to many of his friends, when he took leave of them, that he did not know he should see their faces any more; and therefore he exhorted them to faithfulness and steadfastness, in that wherein they had found rest for their souls. And to some he said, "I am now going up to the city of London again, to lay down my life for the gospel, and suffer among friends in that place."'[26]
Thus it befell that Edward Burrough was called to a more deadly wrestling match than any in the pleasant London fields. He was thrown into prison, and there he had to face a mortal foe in the gaol-fever that was then raging in that noisome den. This was to wrestle in grim earnest, with Death himself for an adversary; and in this wrestling match Death was the conqueror.
Charles the Second was now on the throne. He knew and respected Edward Burrough, and did his best to rescue him. Knowing the pestilential and overcrowded state of Newgate at that time, the Merry Monarch, to his lasting credit, sent a royal warrant for the release of Edward Burrough and some of the other prisoners, when he heard of the danger they were in from the foul state of the prison. But this order a certain cruel and persecuting Alderman, named Richard Brown, and some magistrates of the [253]City of London contrived to thwart. The prisoners remained in the gaol. Edward Burrough caught the fever, and grew rapidly worse. On his death-bed he said, 'Lord, forgive Richard Brown, who imprisoned me, if he may be forgiven.' Later on he said, 'I have served my God in my generation, and that Spirit, which has lived and ruled in me shall yet break forth in thousands.' 'The morning before he departed his life ... he said, "Now my soul and spirit is centred into its own being with God; and this form of person must return from whence it was taken...."' A few moments later, in crowded Newgate, he peacefully fell asleep. 'This was the exit of E. Burrough, who in his flourishing youth, about the age of eight and twenty, in an unmarried state, changed this mortal life for an incorruptible, and whose youthful summer flower was cut down in the winter season, after he had very zealously preached the gospel about ten years.'[27]
Francis Howgill, now left desolate and alone, poured forth a touching lament for his vanished 'yoke-fellow.'
'It was my lot,' he writes, 'to be his companion and fellow-labourer in the work of the gospel where-unto we were called, for many years together. And oh! when I consider, my heart is broken; how sweetly we walked together for many months and years in which we had perfect knowledge of one another's hearts and perfect unity of spirit. Not so much as one cross word or one hard thought of discontent ever rose (I believe) in either of our hearts for ten years together.'
[254]George Fox, no mean fighter himself, adds this comment: 'Edward Burrough never turned his back on the Truth, nor his back from any out of the Truth. A valiant warrior, more than a conqueror, who hath got the crown through death and sufferings; who is dead, but yet liveth amongst us, and amongst us is alive.'
But it is from Francis Howgill, who knew him best and loved him most of all, that we learn the inmost secret of the life of this mighty wrestler, when he says:

FOOTNOTES:
[21] Story of Quakerism, E.B. Emmott.
[22] Story of Quakerism, E.B. Emmott.
[23] England under the Stuarts, G.M. Trevelyan.
[24] Sewel's History of the Quakers.
[25] I have followed Thomas Camm's account of his father's journey with Edward Burrough, and of their meeting with John Audland in the Midlands, as given in his book, The Memory of the Righteous Revived. W.C. Braithwaite, however, in his Beginnings of Quakerism, thinks it more probable that Francis Howgill was E. Burrough's companion from the North, and that the two friends reached London together.
[26] Sewel's History of the Quakers.
[27] Sewel's History of the Quakers.

THE JUDGE'S RETURN

2011-03-09T16:55:00.000-08:00

THE JUDGE'S RETURN

'The Cross being minded it makes[176] a separation from all other lovers, and brings to God.'—G. FOX.

'Give up to be crossed; that is the way to please the Lord and to follow Him in His own will and way, whose way is the best.'—M. FELL.

'Now here was a time of waiting, here is a time of receiving, here is a time of speaking; the Holy Ghost fell upon them, that they spoke the wonderful things of God.'—G. FOX.

'Mind and consider well the spirit of Christ in you, that's he that's lowly in you, that's just and lowly in you: mind this Spirit in you, and then whither will you run, and forsake the Lord of Life? Will you leave Christ the fountain which should spring in you and hunt for yourselves? Should you not abide within, and drink of that which springs freely, and feed on that which is pure, meek and lowly in spirit, that so you might grow spiritual men into the same Spirit, to be as He is, the sheep of His Pasture? For as is your pasture, so are you filled.... And you shall say no more, I am weak and can do nothing, but all things through him who gives you strength.'—JAMES NAYLER.

THE JUDGE'S RETURN

Not one of the six maidens ever remembered a home-coming over-clouded as was Judge Fell's on that thundery afternoon of late July. Sadder, darker days lay before them in the years to follow, but none more filled with unacknowledged dread. Was this sad, stern-looking man, who dismounted wearily from his horse at the high arched gate, really their indulgent father? He scarcely noticed or spoke to them, as he tramped heavily towards the house. 'He did not even raise an eye towards the window where my mother sits, as she hath ever sat, to welcome him,' young Margrett noticed. The thunder rumbled ominously overhead. The first big drops fell from the gloomy clouds that had been gathering for hours; while upstairs, in her panelled chamber, a big tear splashed on the delicate cambric needlework that lay between the elder Margaret's fingers, before she laid it aside and descended the shallow, oaken stairs to greet her husband.
Margaret Fell looked older and sadder than on the afternoon under the yew-trees, only three weeks before. There was a new shade of care on her smooth forehead: yet there was a soft radiance about her that was also new. Even her voice had gentler tones. She looked as if she had reached a haven, like a stately ship that, after long tossing in the waves, now feels itself safely anchored and at rest.
Happily she has left an account of the Judge's return in her own words, words as fresh and vivid as if they had been written but yesterday, instead of [178]more than two hundred and fifty years ago. We will take up her narrative at the point in Ulverston church at which Judge Fell broke away from Mr. Justice Sawrey when he was telling him the same tale from his point of view, on the glistening sands of the estuary of the Leven.
'And there was one John Sawrey,' writes Mistress Fell, 'a Justice of Peace and professor, that bid the church warden take him [George Fox] away, and he laid hands on him several times, and took them off again, and let him alone; and then after awhile he gave over and he [G.F.] came to our house again that night. He spoke in the family amongst the servants, and they were all generally convinced; as William Caton, Thomas Salthouse, Mary Askew, Anne Clayton, and several other servants. And I was struck into such a sadness, I knew not what to do, my husband being from home. I saw it was the truth, and I could not deny it; and I did as the Apostle saith, "I received truth in the love of it;" and it was opened to me so clear, that I had never a tittle in my heart against it; but I desired the Lord that I might be kept in it, and then I desired no greater portion.'
'He went on to Dalton, Aldingham, Dendron and Ramside chapels and steeple-houses, and several places up and down, and the people followed him mightily; and abundance were convinced and saw that that which he spoke was the truth, but the priests were in a rage. And about two weeks after James Nayler and Richard Farnsworth followed him and enquired him out, till they came to Swarthmoor, and there stayed awhile with me at our house, and did me much good; for I was under great heaviness and [179]judgment. But the power of the Lord entered upon me within about two weeks that he came, and about three weeks end my husband came home; and many were in a mighty rage, and a deal of the captains and great ones of the country went to meet my then husband as he was coming home, and informed him "that a great disaster was befallen amongst his family, and that they were witches; and that they had taken us away out of our religion; and that he must either set them away, or all the country would be undone."'
'So my husband came home, greatly offended; and any may think what a condition I was like to be in, that either I must displease my husband or offend God; for he was very much troubled with us all in the house and family, they had so prepossessed him against us. But James Nayler and Richard Farnsworth were both then at our house, and I desired them both to come and speak to him, and so they did very moderately and wisely; but he was at first displeased with them until they told him "they came in love and goodwill to his house." And after that he had heard them speak awhile, he was better satisfied, and they offered as if they would go away; but I desired them to stay and not go away yet, for George Fox will come this evening. And I would have had my husband to have heard them all, and satisfied himself further about them, because they [i.e. the neighbours] had so prepossessed him against them of such dangerous fearful things in his first coming home. And then he was pretty moderate and quiet, and his dinner being ready he went to it, and I went in, and sate me down by him. And whilst I was sitting, the power of the Lord seized upon me, and he was struck [180]with amazement, and knew not what to think; but was quiet and still. And the children were all quiet and still, and grown sober, and could not play on their musick that they were learning; and all these things made him quiet and still.'
'At night George Fox came: and after supper my husband was sitting in the parlour, and I asked him, "if George Fox might come in?" And he said, "Yes." So George came in without any compliment, and walked into the room, and began to speak presently; and the family, and James Nayler, and Richard Farnsworth came all in; and he spoke very excellently as ever I heard him, and opened Christ's and the apostles' practices, which they were in, in their day. And he opened the night of apostacy since the apostles' days, and laid open the priests and their practices in the apostacy that if all England had been there, I thought they could not have denied the truth of these things. And so my husband came to see clearly the truth of what he spoke, and was very quiet that night, said no more and went to bed. The next morning came Lampitt, priest of Ulverston, and got my husband in the garden, and spoke much to him there, but my husband had seen so much the night before, that the priest got little entrance upon him.... After awhile the priest went away; this was on the sixth day of the week, about the fifth month (July) 1652. And at our house divers Friends were speaking to one another, how there were several convinced hereaways and we could not tell where to get a meeting: my husband being also present, he overheard and said of his own accord, "You may meet here, if you will:" and that was the first meeting that [181]we had that he offered of his own accord. And then notice was given that day and the next to Friends, and there was a good large meeting the first day, which was the first meeting that was at Swarthmoor, and so continued there a meeting from 1652 till 1690 [when the present Meeting-house, given by George Fox, was built]. And my husband went that day to the steeple-house, and none with him but his clerk and his groom that rid with him; and the priest and the people were all fearfully troubled; but praised be the Lord, they never got their wills upon us to this day.'
George Fox in his Journal also records his first eventful interview with Judge Fell as follows:

'I found that the priests and professors and Justice Sawrey had much incensed Judge Fell against the truth with their lies; but when I came to speak with him I answered all his objections, and so thoroughly satisfied him by the scriptures that he was convinced in his judgment. He asked me "if I was that George Fox whom Justice Robinson spoke so much in commendation of among many of the parliament men?" I told him I had been with Justice Robinson and Justice Hotham, in Yorkshire, who were very civil and loving to me. After we had discoursed a pretty while together, Judge Fell himself was satisfied also, and came to see, by the openings of the spirit of God in his heart, over all the priests and teachers of the world, and did not go to hear them for some years before he died. He sometimes wished I was awhile with Judge Bradshaw to discourse with him.'

This was Judge Bradshaw the regicide, and, coming as it did from such a friend of Cromwell's as Judge Fell, the remark was probably a high compliment.
[182]The following year, 1653, George Fox came again to Swarthmoor, where he says he had 'great openings from the Lord, not only of divine and spiritual matters, but also of outward things relating to the civil government. Being one day in Swarthmoor Hall when Judge Fell and Justice Benson were talking of the news in the newsbook, and of the Parliament then sitting, (called the long Parliament) I was moved to tell them, "before that day two weeks the Parliament should be broken up, and the speaker plucked out of his chair"; and that day two weeks Justice Benson told Judge Fell that now he saw that George was a true prophet, for Oliver had broken up the parliament.' Although Judge Fell never actually joined Friends he was their constant protector and helper, and, in the words of Fox, 'A wall to the believers.' If he did not himself attend the meetings in the great Hall at Swarthmoor, he was wont to leave the door open as he sat in his Justice's chair in his little oak-panelled study close at hand, and thus hear all that was said, himself unseen. How entirely his wife had regained his confidence, and how entirely Lampitt and Sawrey had failed to poison his mind against her or her new teacher, is shown by the following letter written about this time, when the Judge was away on one of his frequent absences. It is the only letter to Judge Fell from his wife that has been preserved, but it is ample assurance that no shadow had dimmed the unclouded love of this devoted husband and wife.

'Dear Husband,' Margaret writes, 'My dear love and tender desires to the Lord run forth for thee. I have received a letter this day from you, and am very glad that the Lord carried you on your journey so [183]prosperously.... Dear Heart, mind the Lord above all, with whom is no variableness nor shadow of turning, and who will overturn all powers that stand before Him.... We sent to my dear brother James Nayler and he is kept very close and cannot be suffered to have any fire. He is not free to eat of the jailor's meat, so they eat very little but bread and water. He writ to us that they are plotting again to get more false witnesses to swear against him things that he never spoke. I sent him 2 lb., but he took but 5 [shillings?]. They are mighty violent in Westmorland and all parts everywhere towards us. They bid 5 lb. to any man that will take George anywhere that they can find him within Westmorland.... The children are all in health, praised be the Lord. George is not with us now, but he remembered his dear love to thee....

'Thy dutiful wife till death,

MARGARET FELL.'

'Swarthmoor, Feb. 18, 1653.'

But whether Margaret Fell ever entirely forgave Justice Sawrey for the part he had played in trying to alienate her husband from her, is, to say the least, doubtful. Anyhow, later on she wrote of him as 'a catterpillar which shall be swept out of the way.' And 'swept out of the way' he eventually was, some years later, when it is recorded that 'he was drowned in a puddle upon the road coming from York.' But he was to have time and opportunity to do much harm to Friends, and especially to George Fox, before that happened, as the next two stories will show.

-from public domain

SALVATION FROM SIN BY CHRIST ALONE

2011-03-09T16:51:00.001-08:00

A SERMON
PREACHED AT
THE QUAKER'S MEETING HOUSE,
IN GRACECHURCH-STREET, LONDON,
EIGHTH MONTH 12TH, 1694.
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BY WILLIAM PENN.
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SALVATION FROM SIN BY CHRIST ALONE.
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LONDON:
R. H. MOORE, 162, FLEET-STREET;
AND BANCKS AND CO., EXCHANGE-STREET, MANCHESTER.
1836

[Pg 2]BANCKS AND CO., PRINTERS, MANCHESTER.
[Pg 3]The perusal of the first numbers of a series of tracts, containing extracts from the writings of "early Friends," and published for the avowed purpose of lowering the estimation in which those writings are held by the Society, and even of proving "that many of them would reflect discredit upon a private library, and ought truly to be accounted dangerous books," has given rise to the present re-publication. As an humble, but sincere admirer of those principles of Gospel Truth, which the early Friends sought to promulgate, as well by their writings as by eminently devoted lives, and a constant and oft proved willingness to suffer for Christ's sake, I must protest (whether to any purpose or not) against the illiberal, and unjust mode of conduct resorted to by the publishers of the "Extracts," in selecting short and partial sentences, and thus, as I conceive, grossly misrepresenting some of the views of those Worthies long since removed from the world on which they walked as strangers and as pilgrims, and long since, I doubt not, permitted, through the mercy of their God and Saviour, to enter into that "better country," where they are no more exposed to the trials of time, no more exposed to the scoffs and persecutions of men, and no more affected by the calumnies of "false Brethren."
Whilst, however, expressing a sincere and affectionate regard for the memories of those who have preceded me in religious professions, I would add that I consider them worthy to be followed only as they followed Christ, and that if I go forth by the footsteps of this flock of my Saviour's companions, it is that I may feed beside that good Shepherd's tents, where, I believe, they found plentiful pasture.
I would most explicitly state, the present publication is no party act, or an act originating in party feeling, for though I must take a heartfelt interest in the present proceedings in our Society, yet I deeply feel that, even if I see, or think I see, the Ark of the Covenant of our God unsteadily placed as upon a new cart, there is a danger of putting forth, like Uzza of old, uncalled and unprepared hands for its support.
To the serious attention of all honest hearted enquirers after truth do I commend this little Pamphlet, believing that the principles set forth in the annexed Sermon, are the principles uniformly avowed and supported by the "early Friends," and that (however their views and writings may be distorted and belied) the whole Gospel of a crucified and risen Saviour, in all its freeness, and in all its fullness, was what they sought to publish, and by their lives to adorn.
C. GILPIN.
Manchester, 4th Month, 1836.

[Pg 5]SERMON.
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The great and blessed God that made heaven and earth, the seas and the great fountains of the deep, and rivers of water, the Almighty Jehovah, who is from everlasting to everlasting. He also made man and woman; and his design was to make them eternally happy and blessed. And therefore he made man in his own image; "in the image of God created he him, male and female created he them:" He made them after his own likeness holy, wise, merciful, just, patient, and humble, endued them with knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness. But man and woman through their transgressions lost this image of God, and with it lost their happiness and true blessedness, that God made them in a capacity to enjoy.
Now in this state of misery into which we are fallen, we are come short of the glory of God; and it is out of this wretched woful state we must be brought, else we shall never see the face of God with comfort. This is an eternal truth of God, and recorded in the Holy Scriptures. John iii. 16. That "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life." God so loved the world, he gave his Son to be a light unto the world, that all might see their way back to God again: For sin hath darkened the understanding, and clouded the mind of man and woman, and alienated them from the life of God, and their hearts are hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. But now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation, the day of God's grace and favourable visitation, wherein he visits men and women, illuminates their minds and spirits with a light from [Pg 6]heaven, that they might see the deplorable state and condition wherein they are, and what they are doing: It is in this light, that they have a day of grace vouchsafed to them, that it may be well with them, both here and for ever. They that receive this light, and come out of that which they are called from, which is sin, they may come to enjoy peace with God. It was sin that first separated between God and man; and it is sin now that hinders man from acquaintance with the Lord, who brings peace unto him: It is by this light, that we are to acquaint ourselves with God, that we may be at peace. Thus saith the Lord by the prophet, "It is sin has separated between me and you:" Sin hath made a partition wall between God and us, and God hath sent his Son into the world to break down this partition wall that sin hath made; that so fallen man might return to God, and come into Paradise again, out of which sin hath cast him.
Now, none can bring us back to God, and into favour and communion with him, but our Lord Jesus Christ: He is the light and leader of his people. There is no name under heaven by which we can be saved, but the name of Jesus: It is he that saves his people from their sins; and it is in him alone that we are blessed: "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, and whose sin is covered:" And for the sake of Christ alone it is, that the Lord imputeth not iniquity to us. Now pray "Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith," 2 Cor. xiii. 5. "Prove your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except you be reprobates." Examine yourselves, whether you have chosen the Lord for your God, and Christ for your Redeemer? And whether you have forsaken your sins, and returned from your evil ways, and answered the visitation of the love of God in your souls? Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who came to seek and to save them that were lost? He is the Physician of value, that was wounded to heal our wounds: "He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, and had the chastisement[Pg 7] of our peace upon him; that by his stripes we might be healed:" It is he alone that could do this. Who is sufficient for these things? The Lord found out one that is sufficient; he hath "laid help upon one that is mighty," that is "able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him." God hath given him the Spirit without measure, and filled him with grace and truth, that of his fullness we might all receive, and grace for grace: He is mighty to save the sons and daughters of men, and to give them power to become the children of God.
This was testified of old, John i. 12. "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them who believe on his name." Men want power over their sins: When sin appears to be exceeding sinful, they would overcome it, and be rid of it, when it is troublesome: And when they are under a deep conviction of the evil of it, and see the woful and miserable state that sin hath brought mankind into how they have lost the image of God and the favour of God; they then desire to be restored, and brought back again into their primitive state. You that know the truth of God, see how the work goes on in your hearts, see how the image of God is carrying on upon you. Consider, that the Lord is a holy God, of purer eyes than to behold iniquity with approbation: "There is no peace to the wicked," that walk in the broad way, and grieve the Holy Spirit, and do not answer his divine call. There is a two-fold call concerning man, a call to repentance, and a call to judgment. The call to repentance is in this day of God's visitation; they that receive it now, that are so wise, as to answer God's call, and believe in the Son of God, and in his inward appearance, that obey his voice, when they hear his call, saying, Come away, come out of thy sins, come out of the wickedness, filthiness, and pollution of the world; come into the divine nature of the Son of God; come into his life: Into what life? Into the spiritual life, the divine life? Thou hast been dead to God and alive to the world: [Pg 8]Now that thou mayst [sic.] be dead to sin, and alive to God, come unto him that hath all power in heaven and in earth committed to him. O come unto Christ, the dear and blessed Son of God, in this day of grace and salvation, and receive power to overcome thy sins! Then thou wilt be a conqueror, and overcome the Devil.
We are of ourselves altogether insufficient for these things, we are weak and impotent; and our Saviour hath told us, "Without me ye can do nothing:" We are justified freely by God's grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ; not justified by our own works. How great a contradiction is it to charge them with the contrary, that say, They cannot preach nor pray, but as the Spirit of God moveth them. Blessed be God that hath made us sensible of our own weakness, emptiness, and poverty. Our help hath been in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth, who hath given his Son to be an helper, and an all-sufficient Saviour to us; with him he hath given sufficient power and strength, whereby we are enabled to overcome the Devil, the enemy of our souls: So that we may be enabled to stand against principalities and powers, against spiritual wickedness, and conquer all the powers, of darkness, and fight the good fight of faith, and finish our course with joy, and keep the faith: seeing there is laid up for us a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give us at that day; "and not only to us, (saith the Apostle,) but unto all them that love his appearing." We have not an High-Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin: Christ, our Redeemer, was tempted, that he might succour those that are tempted. When the Devil tempted our Saviour in the wilderness, and could not prevail, he went away and left him: The prince of this world found nothing in him, upon which he could fasten his temptation. Christ will enable those that believe in him to overcome the Devil, and to be more than conquerors, [Pg 9]through him that loved them: He came into the world to purge and purify his people, and to be the author of eternal salvation to all them that believe in him, and obey him. But it is said, "He did not many mighty works" among some to whom he preached the everlasting Gospel, because of their unbelief: Many will not believe in the inward and spiritual appearance of Jesus Christ the Son of God, who is the light of the world; they will neither believe in the light, nor walk in the light, which will enable them to conquer the evil one, who is the prince of darkness: It is only through Christ Jesus, the great captain of our salvation, that we are victorious.
Therefore, my friends, open your hearts to the Lord Jesus Christ, receive this blessed gift of God which he offers to you: And can God give you a greater gift than the Son of his Love? And will not you gladly receive him, and that great salvation which he hath purchased for you with his own blood! But, say some people, we have received Christ, and believe in him, and believe the divine authority of the Holy Scriptures. But let me ask you, Who keeps house all this while? What have you done for Christ? Christ hath died for you; but hast thou lived to him? And hast thou died to the world, and died to thy sins and lusts? Consider with yourselves, It is both your great duty and interest to die to sin, and live to Christ that died for you. And we must stand at Christ's tribunal, and give an account to him, of whatsoever we have done, whether good or bad; and he will judge us at the great day of his appearing. Blessed are you, that receive the blessed Son of God, that now stands in Spirit at the door, and knocks: Open your heart, and make room for him, and let not the world keep him out, and he will come in, and sup with you, and you with him: And he will do that for you, which you cannot do for yourselves. "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak:" He will give thee power over sin, and over the world, and over the Devil: Whenever he shall assault thee with his temptations, say, "Get thee behind me [Pg 10]Satan, thou savourest not the things that be of God." When people come to be spiritually minded they will taste and savour the things that are spiritual and heavenly: if they be not things of God, do not touch with them, have nothing to do with them; but walk in the Spirit, and savour the things of the Spirit. And hearken to the counsel of Christ, who speaks to you in the name of Wisdom; "O ye simple ones understand wisdom, and ye fools be of an understanding heart; hear, for I will speak of excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be right things: Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors: For whoso findeth me findeth life." Hearken to the blessed counsel of Christ, hear his voice and obey it: They that do his will, shall know his doctrine: "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him, and he will shew them his covenant."
They that have the saving knowledge of God, and Christ Jesus, which is life eternal, they will walk in a correspondent and suitable manner to that knowledge, and be holy in all manner of conversation: They will not be only nominal Christians, but true Christians, Israelites indeed in whom there is no guile; They will receive Christ Jesus who is God's gift, and knows [sic.] the operation of his power in their souls. These persons are fit to live and prepared to die; when Christ, who is their life, shall appear, they shall appear with him in glory. When the sound of the last trumpet shall be heard at the end of the world, Time shall be no more; Come away! that day shall not be terrible to them that have put off the old man, and put on the new man; and have begun to live a new life, and to have new affections, new thoughts and resolutions, and have laid up their treasure in heaven, where their hearts are also: They have that peace, which the world cannot give, and which death cannot take away. Blessed are they that take sanctuary in the name of Jesus, as in a strong tower; they shall get power over their sins, and over the vanity of their minds, that die [Pg 11]to sin and live to God, and feel the constraining power and efficacy of the love of Christ, "who hath loved them, and washed them from their sins, in his own blood, and made them kings and priests to God."
My friends, hear the voice of Wisdom, who hath said, "Whoso findeth me, findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord: but he that sinneth against me, wrongeth his own soul." Be you early seekers: seek the kingdom of God in the first place. The Lord calls from heaven; "My son, give me thine heart:" Let thy answer be, Lord, take my heart, purify and cleanse it; break it, and make it new, make it fit for thy acceptance, that I may find favour in thy sight. "Without me (saith our Saviour) ye can do nothing:" Therefore desire him to do it for thee, and to work in thee both to will and to do of his own good pleasure. How dreadful is it to appear at the bar of God's justice as miserable sinners! Those that have not Christ, the great Mediator, to plead for them, are miserable indeed: Therefore lay hold on Christ now; believe in him, lay hold on his power and Spirit in this day of your visitation. If thou art under the power of sin and Satan, thou mayst [sic.] receive power from Christ, to overcome all the power of darkness: If the strong man armed hath got possession of thy heart, Christ will lay siege to it; and if thou be willing to open the door, Christ will come in and cast out the strong man, and spoil him of all his goods. He will cast out the grand enemy of thy soul, and take possession for himself; that thou mayest be delivered from the power of Satan, and from the bondage of corruption, and brought into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God: And if the Son of God make thee free, thou shalt be free indeed. For this end Christ came into the world, "for this purpose was the Son of God manifested, that he might destroy the works of the Devil:" And he will not lose the design of his coming, but will "finish transgression, and make an end of sin, and bring in everlasting righteousness."
Let us all come to Christ, and let none deceive [Pg 12]themselves, and live in their sins, and yet think to come to heaven: "Be not deceived, (saith the Apostle,) God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap: He that soweth to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap everlasting life." Labour for a sure grounded hope, a just hope in the mercy of God for pardon and salvation; then you must know a work of Christ upon you, and the power of the Spirit of Christ within you, subduing your will to a holy subjection to the Divine will; that you may say with the Apostle; "I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Then the call to judgment will be joyful to you; for you shall then be justified and acquitted before the whole world, at that great and general judgment, and have an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and it shall be well with you for ever. Now, "say to the righteous, it shall be well with him;" not that it doth so appear at present; for through many tribulations we must expect to enter into the kingdom of heaven; And many are the troubles of the righteous, but the Lord will deliver them out of them all. So that "if in this life only (saith the apostle) we have hope, we are of all men most miserable." Yet "say to the righteous, it shall be well with him;" Whatsoever their trials, troubles, and tribulations are, the Lord will deliver them in the best time; they have heaven in their eye and they look to the recompense of reward. Now what hast thou in thine eye? Is it the high calling in Christ? Is this the mark thou aimest at, and which thou hast in view? Is this the port and haven, that thou art sailing to, "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame?" Heb. xii 2. The apostle, after he had been speaking of the suffering [Pg 13]and martyrdom of those great saints, of whom the world was not worthy; Heb. xi. How that "through faith they subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopt the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, and turned to flight the armies of the Aliens; of women, that received their dead to life again, and others were tortured, not accepting of deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection." Then he comes to speak of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and bids us "Look unto him." Heb. xii. 1, 2, 3. Wherefore, "seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that doth so easily beset us; and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith: Who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross and despised the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God: For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." Blessed are they that can endure all these things, shame, reproach, contumely, and disdain, persecutions and afflictions that attend the testimony of Jesus! Blessed are they that can endure the cross, and despise the shame! It is an internal cross, which thou must endure for Christ, or thy own heart will reprove thee, check thee and condemn thee for it: But if thou comest to know a being crucified with Christ, thou shalt reign with him, and be raised up to eternal glory with him. Unless thou knowest a dying to the world, and a being crucified with Christ, thou canst not have a well grounded hope of everlasting happiness.
Therefore now, friends, examine yourselves about your title to heaven. It is the wisdom and practice of the world, to examine their titles and settlements, and to see, they be sure, and firm, and stable beforehand: So we should make sure for heaven and eternal [Pg 14]glory, and of "an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens," before this earthly tabernacle be dissolved; then for us to live will be Christ, and to die will be eternal gain. Blessed are they that bear record of the Word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus, that bear his name, and testify and join with him against the spirit of the world, and the prince of the power of the air. It is within that thou must join with Christ's appearance, that so thou mayest be christianized, and thy mind made truly christian: Thou must be purified in thy spirit, and baptized with the Holy Ghost, and with fire, and know the powerful operation of the Lord: They that have not experience of the new birth, they cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
O my friends, set before you the example of Christ, who was holy, harmless, and undefiled; his life was glorious in holiness: And as it becomes you, so it highly concerns you, to be holy in all manner of conversation. For if you imitate not the life of Christ, you cannot be saved by his death: He came into the world, to redeem you from all iniquity, and to save you from sin and hell; Labour to answer the dignity of your high and holy calling, with a conversation becoming the gospel of Christ: For you are called to glory and virtue. Whatsoever troubles, temptations and tribulations may attend you in your pilgrimage here below, if you be faithful and sincere, you will have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. In all your labours and travels on this earth, you may look up with joy for you have a serene heaven over your heads; let Christ be precious to you; open the door of your hearts to him, who is the King of glory: He is oppressed in the hearts of the unclean, but he is exalted and lifted up in the hearts of the faithful: Blessed are they that set him upon his throne in their hearts! O learn of Christ to be meek and lowly: Your humility will exalt Him, and will also exalt you at the last: "Be faithful to the death and you shall receive a crown of life:" Those that have eternal life in their eye, and depend upon Christ alone for salvation, [Pg 15]they have laid a sure foundation. All other foundations will come to nothing; they are founded in time, and in time they will come to moulder away: But that city that God is the builder and maker of, that Abraham had in his eye, will never decay, nor moulder away: Let us have this always in our eye, that nothing may intercept our view. "We have here (saith the Apostle) no continuing city; we seek one that is to come." In this world we are as sheep among wolves: "Fear not, little flock, (saith our Saviour,) it is your Father's good pleasure to give you a kingdom." If we be the sheep of Christ, we shall follow him: "For his sheep follow him, and know his voice, and a stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they know not the voice of a stranger." "My sheep (saith Christ) hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hands." Here is encouragement for us to labour abundantly in the work of the Lord; "for our labour shall not be in vain in the Lord." Let us, with Moses, "choose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;" and "esteem the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; and have respect to the recompense of reward."
Friends, I beseech you, in the fear of God, "look up unto Jesus, the GREAT MEDIATOR of the new covenant, the author and finisher of your faith; that by patient continuance in well doing, you may seek for glory, honour, immortality, and eternal life:" Which you shall obtain, if you persevere to the end: "For he that endureth unto the end shall be saved."
"Be not weary of well doing; for in due time you shall reap if you faint not." He that hath appeared, as a God of salvation, and a mighty preserver of his people in all ages of the world, and hath been so both to the primitive christians, and to all our christian friends, that are gone before us to an eternal rest, if you [Pg 16]faint not, but follow them, who through faith and patience do inherit the promises, you shall lay down your heads in peace in him, when you come to die; And when time shall be no more, you shall be for ever with the Lord.
To God be praise, honour, and glory, who hath stretched forth his mighty arm to save: Who is the arm of the Lord but Christ Jesus, the redeemer of souls? When we had undone ourselves, and lost ourselves, in wandering and departing from the Lord, the true and living God, into darkness and the shadow of death, He stretched forth his almighty arm, to gather us, and to bring us into the paradise of God again, when we were driven out by our own sin, from the face and presence of the Lord. Christ Jesus, the great and good shepherd of his sheep, came to seek and to save them that were lost: The lost sheep that have wandered from him, he will take them on his shoulder, and bring them to his fold: and he will make them lie down in green pastures, and lead them by the still waters, and satisfy them with the rivers of pleasure that are at God's right hand for evermore. He hath promised, "That he will feed his flock like a shepherd, and gather his lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom:" I hope CHRIST JESUS, the GREAT SHEPHERD, will find some here this day, that have gone astray, and gather them with his divine arm, and keep them by his mighty power, through faith unto salvation. To him be all praise, honour, glory, dominion, and thanksgiving: For He alone is worthy, who is GOD over all, blessed for ever and ever.—Amen.
from public domain

Scripture Passages

2011-03-09T12:14:00.000-08:00

Scripture Passages from God's Word
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2 Corinthians 12:21 (KJV): And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

Philippians 2:12 (KJV): Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Ezekiel 36:27 (KJV): And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
Romans 8:13 (KJV): For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

James 1:12 (KJV): Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Ezekiel 18:30-32: (KJV): 30Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. 31Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? 32For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

Revelation 12:17 (KJV): And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-==

Justified By Faith

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1.Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
-Romans 5

Thank God that we can have peace, through our faith. By this we are justified. By faith we have accesss into God's marvelous grace. All through our trials on earth, we know that this experience will lead us higher into the depths of God. The great love of God, keeps us and works out all things in our life according to His good will.

Revealing Jesus

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Amazing! 11 Year-Old Reveals Jesus Throughout the Entire Bible!
- Inspirational Videos

Tomb of Jesus

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Sermon #18 New Park Street Pulpit 1
Volume 1 www.spurgeongems.org 1
THE TOMB OF JESUS
NO. 18

A SERMON DELIVERED ON SABBATH MORNING, EASTER MORNING—APRIL 8, 1855,
BY THE REV. C. H. SPURGEON,
AT EXETER HALL STRAND.
“Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”
Matthew 28:6.
EVERY circumstance connected with the life of Christ is deeply interesting to the Christian mind. Wherever we behold
our Savior, He is well worthy of our notice—
“His Cross, His manger and His crown,
Are big with glories yet unknown.”
All His weary pilgrimage, from Bethlehem’s manger to Calvary’s Cross, is in my eyes, paved with glory. Each spot upon
which He trod is to our souls consecrated at once, simply because there the foot of earth’s Savior and our own Redeemer
once was placed. When He comes to Calvary the interest thickens—then our best thoughts are centered on Him in the
agonies of crucifixion! Nor does our deep affection permit us to leave Him, even when, the struggle being over, He yields
up the ghost. His body, when it is taken down from the Cross, still is lovely in our eyes—we fondly linger around the
motionless clay. By faith we discern Joseph of Arimathea and the timid Nicodemus, assisted by those holy women, drawing
out the nails and taking down the mangled body. We behold them wrapping Him in clean white linen, hastily girding
Him round with belts of spices, then putting Him in His tomb and departing for the Sabbath rest. We shall on this
occasion go where Mary went on the morning of the first day of the week, when waking from her couch before the dawn,
she aroused herself to be early at the sepulcher of Jesus. We will try, if it is possible, by the help of God’s Spirit, to go as
she did—not in body, but in soul—we will stand at that tomb. We will examine it and we trust we shall hear some truthspeaking
voice coming from its hollow bosom which will comfort and instruct us, so that we may say of the grave of Jesus
when we go away, “It was none other than the gate of Heaven”—a sacred place, deeply solemn and sanctified by the slain
body of our precious Savior!
I. AN INVITATION GIVEN. I shall commence my remarks this morning by inviting all Christians to come with me
to the tomb of Jesus. “Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” We will labor to render the place attractive. We will
gently take your hand to guide you to it and may it please our Master to make our hearts burn within us while we talk by
the way.
Away, you profane—you souls whose life is laughter, folly and mirth! Away, you sordid and carnal minds who have
no taste for the spiritual, no delight in the celestial. We ask not your company. We speak to God’s Beloved, to the heirs
of Heaven, to the sanctified, the redeemed, the pure in heart—and we say to them—“Come, see the place where the Lord
lay.” Surely you need no argument to move your feet in the direction of the holy sepulcher. But still we will use the utmost
power to draw your spirit there. Come then, for ‘tis the shrine of greatness, ‘tis the resting place of the Man, the
Restorer of our race, the Conqueror of death and Hell! Men will travel hundreds of miles to behold the place where a
poet first breathed the air of earth. They will journey to the ancient tombs of mighty heroes, or the graves of men renowned
by fame. But where shall the Christian go to find the grave of one so famous as was Jesus? Ask me the greatest
man who ever lived—I tell you the Man, Christ Jesus, was “anointed with the oil of gladness above His fellows.” If you
seek a chamber honored as the resting place of genius, turn in here. If you would worship at the grave of holiness, come
here. If you would see the hallowed spot where the choicest bones that ever were fashioned lay for awhile, come with me,
Christian, to that quiet garden, hard by the walls of Jerusalem!
Come with me, moreover, because it is the tomb of your best Friend. The Jews said of Mary, “She goes unto His
grave to weep there.” You have lost your friends, some of you—you have planted flowers upon their graves—you go
and sit at eventide upon the green sward, bedewing the grass with your tears, for there your mother lies and there your
father, or your wife. Oh, in pensive sorrow come with me to this dark garden of our Savior’s burial. Come to the grave of
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your best Friend—your Brother—yes, one who “sticks closer than a brother.” Come, then, to the grave of your dearest
relative, O Christian, for Jesus is your Husband, “your Maker is your Husband, the Lord of Hosts is His name.” Does not
affection draw you? Do not the sweet lips of love woo you? Is not the place sanctified where one so well-beloved slept,
although but for a moment? Surely you need no eloquence. If it were needed I have none. I have but the power in simple,
but earnest accents, to repeat the words, “Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” On this Easter morning pay a visit to
His grave, for it is the grave of your best Friend!
Yes, more, I will further urge you to this pious pilgrimage. Come, for angels bid you. Angels said, “Come, see the
place where the Lord lay.” The Syrian version reads, “Come, see the place where our Lord lay.” Yes, angels put themselves
with those poor women and used one common pronoun—our. Jesus is the Lord of angels as well as of men! You
feeble women—you have called Him, Lord, you have washed His feet, you have provided for His needs, you have hung
upon His lips to catch His honeyed sentences, you have sat entranced beneath His mighty eloquence. You call Him Master
and Lord and you do well. “But,” said the seraph, “He is my Lord, too.” Bowing his head, he sweetly said, “Come, see
the place where our Lord lay.” Do not fear, then, Christian, to step into that tomb! Do not dread to enter there, when
the angel points with his finger and says, “Come, we will go together—angels and men—and see the royal bedchamber.”
You know that angels did go into His tomb, for they sat one at His head and the other at His foot in holy meditation.
I picture to myself those bright cherubs sitting there talking to one another. One of them said, “It was there His feet
lay.” And the other replied, “And there His hands and there His head.” And in celestial language did they talk concerning
the deep things of God. Then they stooped and kissed the rocky floor, made sacred to the angels themselves, not because
there they were redeemed, but because there their Master and their Monarch, whose high behests they were obeying,
did, for a while, become the slave of death and the captive of destruction! Come, then, Christian, for angels are the
porters to unbar the door. Come, for a cherub is your messenger to usher you to the death-place of Death, Himself. No,
start not from the entrance! Let not the darkness frighten you—the vault is not damp with the vapors of death, nor does
the air contain anything of contagion. Come, for it is a pure and healthy place. Fear not to enter that tomb! I will admit
that catacombs are not the places where we, who are full of joy, would love to go. There is something gloomy and noisome
about a vault. There are noxious smells of corruption. Oftentimes pestilence is born where a dead body has lain. But
fear it not, Christian, for Christ was not left in Hell—in Hades—neither did His body see corruption!
Come, there is no scent—yes, rather a perfume. Step in here and if you did ever breathe the gales of Ceylon, or winds
from the groves of Araby, you shall find them far excelled by that sweet holy fragrance left by the blessed body of Jesus,
that alabaster vase which once held Divinity and was rendered sweet and precious thereby. Think not you shall find anything
obnoxious to your senses. Jesus never saw corruption. No worms ever devoured His flesh. No rottenness ever entered
into His bones. He saw no corruption. Three days He slumbered, but not long enough to putrefy. He soon arose,
perfect as when He entered. Uninjured as when His limbs were composed for their slumber. Come then, Christian, summon
up your thoughts, gather all your powers—here is a sweet invitation—let me press it again. Let me lead you by the
hand of meditation, my Brothers and Sisters. Let me take you by the arm of your fancy and let me again say to you,
“Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”
There is yet one reason more why I would have you visit this Royal sepulcher—because it is a quiet spot. Oh, I have
longed for rest, for I have heard this world’s rumors in my ears so long, that I have begged for—
“A lodge in some vast wilderness,
Some boundless contiguity of shade”
where I might hide myself forever! I am sick of this tiring and trying life. My frame is weary, my soul is mad to repose
herself awhile. I wish I could lie myself down a little by the edge of some pebbly brook, with no companion save the fair
flowers or the nodding willows. I would I could recline in stillness, where the air brings balm to the tormented brain,
where there is no murmur save the hum of the summer bee—no whisper except that of the zephyrs and no song except the
caroling of the lark. I wish I could be at ease for a moment. I have become a man of the world—my brain is racked, my
soul is tired. Oh, would you be quiet, Christian? Merchant, would you rest from your toils? Would you be calm for once?
Then come here! It is in a pleasant garden, far from the hum of Jerusalem. The noise and din of business will not reach
you here. “Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” It is a sweet resting spot, a withdrawing room for your soul where
you may brush your garments from the dust of earth and muse awhile in peace.
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II. ATTENTION REQUESTED. Thus I have pressed the invitation—now we will enter the tomb. Let us examine it
with deep attention, noticing every circumstance connected with it.
And first, mark that it is a costly tomb. It is no common grave. It is not an excavation dug out by the spade for a
pauper in which to hide the last remains of his miserable and over-wearied bones. It is a princely tomb. It was made of
marble, cut in the side of a hill. Stand here, Believer, and ask why Jesus had such a costly sepulcher. He had no elegant
garments. He wore a coat without seam, woven from the top throughout, without an atom of embroidery. He owned no
sumptuous palace, for He had not where to lay His head. His sandals were not rich with gold, or studded with brilliants.
He was poor. Why, then, does He lie in a noble grave? We answer, for this reason—Christ was unhonored till He had
finished His sufferings. Christ’s body suffered contumely, shame, spitting, buffeting and reproach until He had completed
His great work. He was trampled under foot, He was “despised and rejected of men. A Man of Sorrows and acquainted
with grief.” But the moment He had finished His undertaking, God said, “No more shall that body be disgraced. If it is
to sleep, let it slumber in an honorable grave. If it is to rest, let nobles bury it. Let Joseph, the councilor and Nicodemus,
the man of Sanhedrim, be present at the funeral. “Let the body be embalmed with precious spices, let it have honor. It has
had enough of contumely, shame, reproach and buffeting. Let it now be treated with respect.” Christian, do you discern
the meaning? Jesus, after He had finished His work, slept in a costly grave—for now His Father loved and honored Him,
since His work was done!
But though it is a costly grave, it is a borrowed one. I see over the top of it, “Sacred to the memory of the family of
Joseph of Arimathea.” Yet Jesus slept there. Yes, He was buried in another’s sepulcher. He who had no house of His own
and rested in the habitation of other men. He who had no table, but lived upon the hospitality of His disciples. He who
borrowed boats in which to preach and had not anything in the wide world, was obliged to have a tomb from charity!
Oh, should not the poor take courage? They dread to be buried at the expense of their neighbors. But if their poverty is
unavoidable, why should they blush, since Jesus Christ, Himself, was interred in another’s grave? Ah, I wish I might have
had Joseph’s grave, to let Jesus be buried in it. Good Joseph thought he had cut it out for himself. He thought that he
would lay his bones there. He had it excavated as a family vault and lo, the Son of David makes it one of the tombs of the
kings! But he did not lose it by lending it to the Lord—rather, he had it back with precious interest. He only lent it three
days—then Christ resigned it—He had not injured but perfumed and sanctified it and made it far more holy! So that it
would be an honor in future to be buried there. It was a borrowed tomb—and why? I take it not to dishonor Christ, but
in order to show that as His sins were borrowed sins so His burial was in a borrowed grave. Christ had no transgressions
of His own. He took ours upon His head. He never committed a wrong but He took all my sin—and all yours—if you
are Believers. Concerning all His people, it is true, He bore their griefs and carried their sorrows in His own body on the
tree. Therefore, as they were others’ sins, so He rested in another’s grave. As they were sins imputed, so that grave was
only imputably His. It was not His sepulcher—it was the tomb of Joseph.
Let us not weary in this pious investigation, but with fixed attention observe everything connected with this holy
spot. The grave, we observe, was cut in a rock. Why was this? The Rock of Ages was buried in a rock—a Rock within a
rock. But why? Most persons suggest that it was so ordained that it might be clear that there was no covert way by which
the disciples or others could enter and steal the body away. Very possibly it was the reason, but oh, my Soul, can you not
find a spiritual reason? Christ’s sepulcher was cut in a rock. It was not cut in mold that might be worn away by water, or
might crumble and fall into decay.
The sepulcher stands, I believe, entire to this day. If it does not naturally, it does spiritually. The same sepulcher
which took the sins of Paul shall take my iniquities into its bosom. For if I ever lose my guilt, it must roll off my shoulders
into the sepulcher. It was cut in a rock so that if a sinner were saved a thousand years ago, I, too, can be delivered,
for it is a rocky sepulcher where sin was buried. It was a rocky sepulcher of marble where my crimes were laid forever—
buried never to have a resurrection. You will mark, moreover, that tomb was one wherein no other man had ever lain.
Christopher Ness says, “When Christ was born, He lay in a virgin’s womb and when He died He was placed in a virgin
tomb. He slept where never man had slept before.” The reason was that none might say that another person rose, for
there never had been any other body there, thus a mistake of persons was impossible. Nor could it be said that some old
Prophet was interred in the place and that Christ rose because He had touched his bones. You remember when Elisha was
buried and as they were burying a man, behold he touched the Prophet’s bones and arose. Christ touched no Prophet’s
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bones, for none had ever slept there. It was a new chamber, where the Monarch of the earth did take His rest for three
days and three nights.
We have learned a little, then, with attention. But let us stoop down once more before we leave the grave and notice
something else. We see the grave, but do you notice the grave clothes, all folded neatly and laid in their places, the napkin
being folded up by itself? Why are the grave clothes folded? The Jews said robbers had abstracted the body. But if so,
surely they would have stolen the clothes! They would never have thought of folding them up and laying them down so
carefully—they would be too much in haste to think of it. Why was it, then? To manifest to us that Christ did not come
out in a hurried manner. He slept till the last moment. Then He awoke—He came not in haste. They shall not come out
in haste—neither by flight—but at the appointed moment shall His people come to Him. So at the precise hour, the decreed
instant, Jesus Christ leisurely awoke, took off His cerements, left them all behind Him and came forth in His pure
and naked innocence, perhaps to show us that as clothes are the offspring of sin—when sin was atoned for by Christ, He
left all raiment behind Him—for garments are the badges of guilt. If we had not been guilty we would never have needed
them.
Then, the napkin, mark you, was laid by itself. The grave clothes were left behind for every departed Christian to
wear. The bed of death is well sheeted with the garments of Jesus, but the napkin was laid by itself, because the Christian,
when He dies, does not need that. It is used by the mourners and the mourners only. We shall all wear grave-clothes but
we shall not need the napkin. When our friends die, the napkin is laid aside for us to use, but do our ascended Brothers
and Sisters use it? No, the Lord God has wiped away all tears from their eyes! We stand and view the corpses of the dear
departed, we moisten their faces with our tears, letting whole showers of grief fall on their heads, but do they weep? Oh,
no. Could they speak to us from the upper spheres, they would say, “weep not for me, for I am glorified. Sorrow not for
me. I have left a bad world behind me and have entered into a far better.” They have no napkin—they weep not. Strange
it is that those who endure death weep not. But those who see them die are weepers. When the child is born it weeps when
others smile (say the Arabs) and when it dies, it smiles while others weep. It is so with the Christian. O blessed thing! The
napkin is laid by itself, because Christians will never need to use it when they die.
III. EMOTION EXCITED, We have thus surveyed the grave with deep attention, and, I hope, with some profit to
ourselves. But that is not all. I love a religion which consists, in a great measure, of emotion. Now, if I had power, like a
master, I would touch the strings of your hearts and fetch a glorious tune of solemn music from them! For this is a deeply
solemn place, into which I have conducted you.
First, I would bid you stand and see the place where the Lord lay with emotions of deep sorrow. O come, my beloved
Brothers and Sisters, your Jesus once lay there! He was a murdered man, my Soul, and you the murderer—
“Ah, you, my sins, my cruel sins,
His chief tormentors were!
Each of my crimes became a nail,
And unbelief the spear.
Alas, and did my Savior bleed?
And did my Sovereign die?”
I slew Him—this right hand struck the dagger to His heart! My deeds slew Christ. Alas, I slew my best Beloved! I killed
Him who loved me with an everlasting love! You eyes, why do you refuse to weep when you see Jesus’ body mangled and
torn? Oh, give rent to your sorrow, Christians, for you have good reason to do so. I believe in what Hart says, that there
was a time in his experience when he could so sympathize with Christ that he felt more grief at the death of Christ than he
did joy. It seemed so sad a thing that Christ should have to die and to me it often appears too great a price for Jesus Christ
to purchase worms with His own blood. I think I love Him so much that if I had seen Him about to suffer, I would
have been as bad as Peter and have said, “That be far from You, Lord.” But then He would have said to me, “Get you
behind Me, Satan.” For He does not approve of that love which would stop Him from dying. “The cup which My Father
has given Me, shall I not drink it?” But I think had I seen Him going up to His Cross, I would gladly have pressed Him
back and said, “Oh, Jesus, You shall not die. I cannot have it. Will You purchase my life with a price so dear?” It seems
too costly for Him who is the Prince of Life and Glory to let His fair limbs be tortured in agony. That the hands which
carried mercies should be pierced with accursed nails. That the temples that were always clothed with love should have
cruel thorns driven through them. It appears too much. Oh, weep, Christian, and let your sorrow rise! Is not the price all
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but too great, that your Beloved should for you resign Himself? Oh, I should think if a person were saved from death by
another, he would always feel deep grief if his deliverer lost his life in the attempt. I had a friend, who, standing by the
side of a piece of frozen water saw a young lad in it and sprang upon the ice in order to save him. After clutching the boy
he held him in his hands and cried out, “Here he is! Here he is! I have saved him.” But just as they caught hold of the boy,
he sank, himself, and his body was not found for some time afterwards. Oh, it is so with Jesus! My soul was drowning.
From Heaven’s high portals He saw me sinking in the depths of Hell. He plunged in—
“He sank beneath His heavy woes,
To raise me to a crown;
There’s never a gift His hand bestows,
But cost His heart a groan.”
Ah, we may, indeed, regret our sin, since it slew Jesus.
Now, Christian, change your note a moment. “Come, see the place where the Lord lay,” with joy and gladness. He
does not lie there now. Weep, when you see the tomb of Christ, but rejoice because it is empty. Your sin slew Him, but
His Divinity raised Him up! Your guilt has murdered Him, but His righteousness has restored Him. Oh, He has burst the
bonds of death! He has ungirt the cerements of the tomb and has come out more than conqueror, crushing death beneath
His feet. Rejoice, O Christian, for He is not there—He is risen. “Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”
One more thought and then I will speak a little concerning the Doctrines we may learn from this grave. “Come, see
the place where the Lord lay” with solemn awe, for you and I will have to lay there, too—
“Hark! From the tomb a doleful sound,
My ears, attend the cry.
You living men, come view the ground
Where you must shortly lie.
Princes, this clay must be your bed
In spite of all your powers!
The tall, the wise, the reverend head
Must lie as low as ours.”
It is a fact we do not often think of—that we shall all be dead in a little while. I know that I am made of dust and not of
iron. My bones are not brass, nor my sinews steel—in a little while my body must crumble back to its native elements.
But do you ever try to picture yourself the moment of your dissolution? My Friends, there are some of you who seldom
realize how old you are, how near you are to death. One way of remembering our age is to see how much remains. Think
how old 80 is and then see how few years there are before you will get there. We should remember our frailty. Sometimes
I have tried to think of the time of my departure. I do not know whether I shall die a violent death or not, but I would to
God that I might die suddenly, for sudden death is sudden Glory! I would I might have such a blessed exit as Doctor
Beaumont and die in my pulpit laying down my body with my charge and ceasing at once to work and live! But it is not
mine to choose. Suppose I lie lingering for weeks in the midst of pains and griefs and agonies? When that moment comes,
that moment which is too solemn for my lips to speak of, when the spirit leaves the clay—let the physician put it off for
weeks or years, as we say he does, though he does not—when that moment comes, oh, you lips, be dumb and profane not
its solemnity! When death comes, how is the strong man bowed down! How does the mighty man fall! They may say they
will not die, but there is no hope for them—they must yield—the arrow has gone home. I knew a man who was a wicked
wretch and I remember seeing him pace the floor of his bedroom, saying, “O God, I will not die, I will not die.” When I
begged him to lie on his bed for he was dying, he said he could not die while he could walk and he would walk till he did
die. Ah, he expired in the utmost torments, always shrieking, “O God, I will not die.” Oh, that moment, that last moment!
See how clammy is the sweat upon the brow, how dry the tongue, how parched the lips are? The man shuts his eyes
and slumbers, then opens them again. And if he is a Christian, I can fancy he will say—
“Hark! They whisper—angels say
Sister spirit, come away.
What is this absorbs me quite—
Steals my senses—shuts my sight—
Drowns my spirit—draws my breath?
Tell me, my Soul, can this be death?”
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We know not when one will die. One gentle sigh and the spirit breaks away. We can scarcely say, “He is gone,” before the
ransomed spirit takes its mansion near the Throne. Come to Christ’s tomb then, for the silent vault must soon be your
habitation. Come to Christ’s grave, for you must slumber there. And even you, you Sinners, for one moment I will ask
you to also come because you must die as well as the rest of us. Your sins cannot keep you from the jaws of death. I say,
Sinner, I want you to look at Christ’s sepulcher, too—for when you die it may have done you great good to think of it.
You have heard of Queen Elizabeth crying out that she would give an empire for a single hour. Or, have you read the
despairing cry of the gentleman on board the “Arctic,” when it was going down, who shouted to the boat, “Come back! I
will give you £30.000 if you will come and take me in.” Ah, poor man. It were but little if he had thirty thousand worlds,
if he could thereby prolong his life! “Skin for skin. Yes, all that a man has will he give for his life.” Some of you who
laugh this morning, who came to spend a merry hour in this hall, will be dying and then you will pray and crave for life
and shriek for another Sunday. Oh, how the Sundays you have wasted will walk like ghosts before you! Oh, how they will
shake their snaky hair in your eyes! How will you be made to sorrow and weep because you wasted precious hours, which,
when they are gone, are gone too far ever to be recalled. May God save you from the pangs of remorse!
IV. INSTRUCTION IMPARTED. And now, Christian Brothers and Sisters, “Come, see the place where the Lord
lay,” to learn a Doctrine or two. What did you see when you visited “the place where the Lord lay?” “He is not here—
for He is risen!” The first thing you perceive, if you stand by His empty tomb, is His Divinity. The dead in Christ shall
rise first at the Resurrection, but He who rose first—their Leader, rose in a different fashion. They rise by imparted
power. He rose by His own. He could not slumber in the grave because He was God. Death had no dominion over Him.
There is no better proof of Christ’s Divinity than that startling Resurrection of His, when He rose from the grave, by the
glory of the Father. O Christian, your Jesus is GOD. His broad shoulders that hold you up are, indeed, Divine. And here
you have the best proof of it—because He rose from the grave!
A second Doctrine here taught well may charm you, if the Holy Spirit applies it with power. Behold this empty
tomb, O true Believer—it is a sign of your acquittal and your full discharge. If Jesus had not paid the debt, He would
never had risen from the grave. He would have lain there till this moment if He had not cancelled the entire debt by satisfying
eternal vengeance. Oh, Beloved, is not that an overwhelming thought?—
“It is finished! It is finished!
Hear the rising Savior cry.”
The heavenly turnkey came. A bright angel stepped from Heaven and rolled away the stone—but he would not have
done so if Christ had not done all. He would have kept Him there. He would have said, “No, no, you are the sinner now.
You have the sins of all your elect upon your shoulder and I will not let you go free till you have paid the uttermost farthing.”
In His going free I see my own discharge—
“My Jesus’ blood’s my full discharge”
As a justified man, I have not a sin against me in God’s book! If I were to turn over God’s eternal book I should see every
debt of mine receipted and cancelled—
“Here’s pardon for transgressions past,
It matters not how black their cast,
And O, my Soul, with wonder view—
For sins to come, here’s pardon, too!
While through Your blood absolved I am
From sin’s tremendous curse and blame.”
One more doctrine we learn and with that we will conclude—the Doctrine of the Resurrection. Jesus rose and as the
Lord our Savior rose, so all His followers must rise. Die I must—this body must be a carnival for worms, it must be eaten
by those tiny cannibals—perhaps it shall be scattered from one portion of the earth to another. The constituent particles
of this, my frame, will enter into plants, from plants pass into animals and thus be carried into far distant realms. But at
the blast of the archangel’s trumpet, every separate atom of my body shall find its fellow—like the bones lying in the
Valley of Vision, though separated from one another—the moment God shall speak, the bone will creep to its bone, then
the flesh shall come upon it. The four winds of Heaven shall blow and the breath shall return! So, let me die, let beasts
devour me, let fire turn this body into gas and vapor—all its particles shall yet again be restored! This very same, actual
body shall start up from its grave, glorified and made like Christ’s body, yet still the same body, for God has said it. ChrSermon
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ist’s same body rose—so shall mine! O my Soul, do you now dread to die? You will lose your partner body a little while,
but you will be married again in Heaven—soul and body shall again be united before the Throne of God! The grave—
what is it? It is the bath in which the Christian puts the clothes of his body to have them washed and cleansed. Death—
what is it? It is the waiting room where we robe ourselves for immortality! It is the place where the body, like Esther,
bathes itself in spices, that it may be fit for the embrace of its Lord. Death is the gate of life. I will not fear to die, then,
but will say—
“Shudder not to pass the stream
Venture all your care on Him—Him,
Whose dying love and power
Stilled its tossing, hushed its roar.
Safe is the expanded wave,
Gentle as a summer’s eve—
Not one object of His care
Ever suffered shipwreck there.”
Come, view the place, then, with all-hallowed meditation, where the Lord lay! Spend this afternoon, my beloved
Brothers and Sisters, in meditating upon it and very often go to Christ’s grave both to weep and to rejoice. You timid
ones—do not be afraid to approach, for ‘tis no vain thing to remember that timidity buried Christ. Faith would not
have given Him a funeral at all. Faith would have kept Him above ground and would never have let Him be buried, for it
would have said it would be useless to bury Christ if He were to rise. Fear buried Him. Nicodemus, the night disciple and
Joseph of Arimathea, secretly, for fear of the Jews, went and buried Him. Therefore, you timid ones, you may go, too.
Ready-to-Halt, poor Fearing and you, Mrs. Despondency, and Much-afraid, go often there—it is your favorite haunt.
There build a tabernacle, there abide. And often say to your heart, when you are in distress and sorrow, “Come, see the
place where the Lord lay.”

Adapted from The C. H. Spurgeon Collection, Version 1.0, Ages Software.
PRAY THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL USE THIS SERMON
TO BRING MANY TO A SAVING KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS CHRIST.

SWEET COMFORT -BY THE REV. C. H. SPURGEON

2011-03-04T11:11:00.000-08:00

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SWEET COMFORT FOR FEEBLE SAINTS
NO. 6

A SERMON DELIVERED ON SABBATH MORNING, FEBRUARY 4, 1855,
BY THE REV. C. H. SPURGEON,
AT NEW PARK STREET CHAPEL, SOUTHWARK.
“A bruised reed shall He not break and smoking flax shall He not quench, till
He send forth judgment unto victory.”
Matthew 12:20.
BABBLING fame always loves to talk of one man or another. Some there are whose glory it trumpets forth and
whose honor it extols above the heavens. Some are her favorites and their names are carved on marble—heard in every
land and every clime. Fame is not an impartial judge—she has her favorites. Some men she extols, exalts and almost deifies—
others, whose virtues are far greater and whose characters are more deserving of commendation, she passes by unheeded
and puts the finger of silence on her lips. You will generally find that those persons beloved by fame are men made
of brass or iron and cast in a rough mold. Fame caresses Caesar because he ruled the earth with a rod of iron. Fame loves
Luther because he boldly and manfully defied the Pope of Rome and with knit brow dared laugh at the thunders of the
Vatican. Fame admires Knox, for he was stern and proved himself the bravest of the brave. Generally, you will find her
choosing the men of fire and mettle, who stood before their fellow creatures fearless of them—men who were made of
courage—who were consolidated lumps of fearlessness and never knew what timidity might be!
But you know there is another class of persons equally virtuous and equally to be esteemed—perhaps even more
so—whom fame entirely forgets. You do not hear her talk of the gentle-minded Melancthon—she says but little of
him—yet he did as much, perhaps, in the Reformation, as even the mighty Luther! You do not hear fame talk much of
the sweet and blessed Rutherford and of the heavenly words that distilled from his lips. Or of Archbishop Leighton, of
whom it was said that he was never out of temper in his life. She loves the rough granite peaks that defy the storm
cloud—she does not care for the more humble stone in the valley, on which the weary traveler rests. She wants something
bold and prominent—something that courts popularity—something that stands out before the world. She does not care
for those who retreat in the shade. Therefore, it is, my Brothers and Sisters, that the blessed Jesus, our adorable Master,
has escaped fame. No one says much about Jesus, except His followers. We do not find His name written among the great
and mighty men. Though, in truth, He is the greatest, mightiest, holiest, purest and best of men that ever lived. But because
He was, “Gentle Jesus, meek and mild,” and was emphatically the Man whose Kingdom is not of this world—
because He had nothing of the rough about Him, but was all love—because His words were softer than butter, His utterances
more gentle in their flow than oil—because never man spoke so gently as this Man—therefore He is neglected and
forgotten.
He did not come to be a conqueror with his sword, nor a Mohammed with his fiery eloquence, but He came to speak
with a “still small voice,” that melts the rocky heart, that binds up the broken in spirit. A voice that continually says,
“Come unto Me all you that are weary and heavy laden.” “Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am meek and
lowly of heart and you shall find rest unto your souls.” Jesus Christ was all gentleness. And this is why He has not been
extolled among men as otherwise He would have been. Beloved, our text is full of gentleness. It seems to have been
steeped in love. And I hope I may be able to show you something of the immense sympathy and the mighty tenderness of
Jesus as I attempt to speak from it. There are three things to be noticed!—First, mortal frailty. Secondly, Divine compassion.
And thirdly, certain triumph—“till He send forth judgment unto victory.”
I. First, we have before us a view of MORTAL FRAILTY—bruised reed and smoking flax—two very suggestive
metaphors and very full of meaning. If it were not too fanciful—and if it is, I know you will excuse me—I should say
that the bruised reed is an emblem of a sinner in the first stage of his conviction. The work of God’s Holy Spirit begins
with bruising. In order to be saved, the fallow ground must be plowed up—the hard heart must be broken—the rock
must be split in sunder. An old divine says there is no going to Heaven without passing hard by the gates of Hell—
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without a great deal of soul-trouble and heart-exercise. I take it, then, that the bruised reed is a picture of the poor sinner
when first God commences His operation upon the soul. He is a bruised reed, almost entirely broken and consumed—
there is but little strength in him! The smoking flax I conceive to be a backsliding Christian—one who has been a burning
and a shining light in his day, but by neglect of the means of Grace, the withdrawal of God’s Spirit and falling into
sin, his light is almost gone out—not quite—it never can go out, for Christ says, “I will not quench it.” But it becomes
like a lamp when ill-supplied with oil—almost useless. It is not quite extinguished—it smokes. It was a useful lamp,
once, but now it has become as smoking flax. So I think these metaphors very likely describe the contrite sinner as a
bruised reed and the backsliding Christian as smoking flax. However, I shall not choose to make such a division as that,
but I shall put both the metaphors together and I hope we may fetch out a few thoughts from them.
And first, the encouragement offered in our text applies to weak ones. What in the world is weaker than the bruised
reed, or the smoking flax? A reed that grows in the bog or marsh, let but the wild duck light upon it and it snaps. Let but
the foot of man brush against it and it is bruised and broken. Every wind that comes howling across the river makes it
shake to and fro and well near tears it up by the roots. You can conceive of nothing more frail or brittle, or whose existence
depends more upon circumstances than a bruised reed! Then look at smoking flax—what is it? It has a spark within
it, that is true, but it is almost smothered—an infant’s breath might blow it out, or the tears of a maiden quench it in a
moment! Nothing has a more precarious existence than the little spark hidden in the smoking flax. Weak things, you see,
are here described. Well, Christ says of them, “The smoking flax I will not quench. The bruised reed I will not break.”
Let me go in search of the weaklings. Ah, I shall not have to go far. There are many in this House of Prayer this morning
who are, indeed, weak. But some of God’s children, blessed be His name, are made strong to do mighty works for Him!
God has His Samsons, here and there, who can pull up Gaza’s gates and carry them to the top of the hill. He has here
and there His mighty Gideons, who can go to the camp of the Midianites and overthrow their hosts. He has His mighty
men, who can go into the pit in winter and slay the lions—but the majority of His people are a timid, weak race. They
are like the starlings that are frightened at every passerby, a little fearful flock. If temptation comes, they fall before it. If
trial comes, they are overwhelmed by it—their frail skiff is danced up and down by every wave. And when the wind
comes, they are drifted along like a sea bird on the crest of the billows. Weak things, without strength, without force,
without might, without power Ah, dear Friends, I know I have got hold of some of your hands, now, and your hearts,
too! For you are saying, “Weak? Ah, that I am. Full often I am compelled to say, I would, but cannot sing. I would, but
cannot pray. I would, but cannot believe.” You are saying that you cannot do anything. Your best resolves are weak and
vain. And when you cry, “My strength renew,” you feel weaker than before! You are weak, are you? Bruised reeds and
smoking flax? Blessed be God, this text is for you, then! I am glad you can come in under the denomination of weak ones,
for here is a promise that He will never break nor quench them, but will sustain and hold them up.
I know there are some very strong people here—I mean strong in their own ideas. I often meet with persons who
would not confess any such weakness as this. They are strong minds. They say, “Do you think that we go into sin, Sir?
Do you tell us that our hearts are corrupt? We do not believe any such thing. We are good, pure and upright. We have
strength and might.” To you I am not preaching this morning. To you I am saying nothing. But take heed—your
strength is vanity, your power is a delusion, your might is a lie—for however much you may boast in what you can do, it
shall pass away! When you come to the real contest with death, you shall find that you have no strength to grapple with
it—when one of these days of strong temptation shall come—it will take hold of you, moral man, and down you will go!
And the glorious livery of your morality will be so stained, that though you wash your hands in snow water and make
yourselves ever so clean, you shall be so polluted that your own clothes shall abhor you. I think it is a blessed thing to be
weak. The weak one is a sacred thing. The Holy Spirit has made him such. Can you say, “I have no strength?” Then this
text is for you!
Secondly, the things mentioned in our text are not only weak, but worthless things. I have heard of a man who
would pick up a pin as he walked along the street, on the principle of economy. But I never yet heard of a man who would
stop to pick up bruised reeds. They are not worth having! Who would care to have a bruised reed—a piece of rush lying
on the ground? We all despise it as worthless. And smoking flax! What is the worth of that? It is an offensive and noxious
thing and the worth of it is nothing. No one would give the snap of a finger either for the bruised reed or the smoking
flax. Well, then, Beloved, in our estimation there are many of us who are worthless things. There are some here, who, if
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they could weigh themselves in the scales of the sanctuary and put their own hearts into the balance of conscience, would
appear to be good for nothing—worthless, useless! There was a time when you thought yourselves to be the very best
people in the world—when if anyone had said that you had more than you deserved, you would have kicked at it and
said, “I believe I am as good as other people.” You thought yourselves something wonderful—extremely worthy of
God’s love and regard but you now feel yourselves to be worthless. Sometimes you imagine God can hardly know where
you are, you are such a despicable creature—so worthless—not worth His consideration. You can understand how He
can look upon an animalcule in a drop of water, or upon a grain of dust in the sunbeam, or upon the insect of the summer
evening. But you can hardly tell how He can think of you, you appear so worthless—a dead blank in the world, a useless
thing! You say, “What good am I? I am doing nothing. As for a minister of the Gospel, he is of some service. As for a
deacon of the Church he is of some use. As for a Sunday school teacher, he is doing some good—but of what service am
I?” And you might ask the same question here. What is the use of a bruised reed? Can a man lean upon it? Can a man
strengthen himself with it ? Shall it be a pillar in my house? Can you bind it up into the pipes of Pan and make music
come from a bruised reed?
Ah, no. It is of no service! And of what use is smoking flax? the midnight traveler cannot be lighted by it. The student
cannot read by the flame of it. It is of no use—men throw it into the fire and consume it. Ah, that is how you talk of
yourselves. You are good for nothing! So are these things. But Christ will not throw you away because you are of no value.
You do not know of what use you may be and you cannot tell how Jesus Christ values you after all. There is a good
women there, a mother, perhaps. She says, “Well, I do not often go out—I keep house with my children and seem to be
doing no good.” Mother, do not say so, your position is a high, lofty, responsible one. In training up children for the
Lord, you are doing as much for His name as yon eloquent Apollos, who so valiantly preached the Word! And you, poor
man, all you can do is to toil from morning till night and earn just enough to enable you to live day by day. You have
nothing to give away and when you go to the Sunday school, you can just read, you cannot teach much. Well, but unto
him to whom little is given of him little is required. Do you not know that there is such a thing as glorifying God by
sweeping the street crossing? If two angels were sent down to earth, one to rule an empire and the other to sweep a street,
they would have no choice in the matter, so long as God ordered them. So God, in His Providence, has called you to
work hard for your daily bread. Do it to His Glory! “Whatsoever you do, whether you eat or drink, do all to His honor.”
But, ah, I know there are some of you here who seem useless to the Church. You do all you can. But when you have
done it, it is nothing. You can neither help us with money, nor talents, nor time and, therefore, you think God must cast
you out. You think if you were like Paul or Peter you might be safe. Ah, Beloved, talk not so! Jesus Christ says He will
not quench the useless flax, nor break the worthless bruised reed. He has something for the useless and for the worthless
ones. But mark you, I do not say this to excuse laziness—to excuse those that can do, but do not—that is a very different
thing! There is a whip for the ass, a scourge for idle men and they must sometimes have it. I am speaking now of those
who cannot do it. Not of Issachar, who is like a strong ass, crouching down between two burdens and too lazy to get up
with them. I say nothing for the sluggard who will not plow by reason of the cold. But of the men and women who really
feel that they can be of little service—who cannot do more—to such, the words of the text are applicable!
Now we will make another remark. The two things here mentioned are offensive things. A bruised reed is offensive,
for I believe there is an illusion here to the pipes of Pan, which you all know are reeds put together, along which a man
moves his mouth, thus causing some kind of music. This is the organ, I believe which Jubal invented and which David
mentions, for it is certain that the organ we use was not then in use. The bruised reed, then, would of course spoil the
melody of all the pipes. One unsound tube would so let the air out, as to produce a discordant sound—or no sound at
all—so that one’s impulse would be to take the pipe out and put in a fresh one.
And as for smoking flax, the wick of a candle or anything of that kind, I need not inform you that the smoke is offensive.
To me no odor in all the world is so abominably offensive as smoking flax. But some say, “How can you speak in so
low a style?” I have not gone lower than I could go myself, nor lower than you can go with me. For I am sure you are, if
God the Holy Spirit has really humbled you, just as offensive to your own souls and just as offensive to God as a bruised
reed would be among the pipes, or as smoking flax to the eyes and nose! I often think of dear old John Bunyan, when he
said he wished God had made him a toad, or a frog, or a snake or anything rather than a man, for he felt he was so offensive.
Oh, I can conceive a nest of vipers and I think that they are obnoxious. I can imagine a pool of all kinds of loathsome
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creatures, breeding corruption, but there is nothing one half so worthy of abhorrence as the human heart. God spares
from all eyes but His own that awful sight—the human heart! And could you and I but once see our heart, we would be
driven mad, so horrible would be the sight! Do you feel like that? Do you feel that you must be offensive in God’s
sight—that you have so rebelled against Him, so turned away from His Commandments, that surely you must be obnoxious
to Him? If so, my text is yours.
Now, I can imagine some woman here this morning who has departed from the paths of virtue and, while she is
standing in the throng up there, or sitting down, she feels as if she had no right to tread these hallowed courts and stand
among God’s people. She thinks that God might almost make the Chapel break down upon her to destroy her, she is so
great a sinner! Never mind, broken reed and smoking flax! Though you are the scorn of man and loathsome to yourself,
yet Jesus says to you, “Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto you.” There is some
man here who has something in his heart that I know not of—who may have committed crimes in secret, that we will not
mention in public. His sins stick like a leech to him and rob him of all comfort. Here you are, young man, shaking and
trembling, lest your crime should be divulged before high Heaven. You are broken down, bruised like a reed, smoking
like flax. Ah, I have a word for you, too. Comfort! Comfort! Comfort! Despair not. For Jesus says He will not quench the
smoking flax, He will not break the bruised reed.
And yet, my dear Friends, there is one thought before I turn away from this point. Both of these articles, however
worthless they may be, may yet be of some service, When God puts His hand to a man, if he were worthless and useless
before, He can make him very valuable. You know the price of an article does not depend so much upon the value of the
raw material as upon workmanship put upon it. Here is very bad raw material to begin with—bruised reeds and smoking
flax. But by Divine workmanship both these things become of wondrous value! You tell me the bruised reed is good
for nothing. I tell you that Christ will take that bruised reed and mend it up and fit it in the pipes of Heaven! Then when
the grand orchestra shall send forth its music, when the organs of the skies shall peal forth their deep-toned sounds, we
shall ask, “What was that sweet note heard there, mingling with the rest?” And someone shall say, “It was a bruised
reed.” Ah, Mary Magdalene’s voice in Heaven, I imagine, sounds more sweet and liquid than any other! And the voice of
that poor thief, who said “Lord, remember me,” if it is a deep bass voice, is more mellow and more sweet than the voice
of any other—because he loved much, for he had much forgiven him. This reed may yet be of use!
Do not say you are good for nothing. You shall sing up in Heaven yet. Do not say your are worthless—at last you
shall stand before the Throne among the blood-washed company and shall sing God’s praise. Yes, and the smoking flax,
too, what good can that be? I will soon tell you. There is a spark in that flax somewhere. It is nearly out, but still a spark
remains. Behold the prairie on fire! See you the flames come rolling on? See you stream after stream of hot fire deluging
the plain till all the continent is burnt and scorched—till Heaven is reddened with the flame? Old night’s black face is
scarred with the burning and the stars appear frightened at the conflagration. How was that mass ignited? By a piece of
smoking flax dropped by some traveler! It was fanned by the soft wind till the whole prairie caught the flame. So one
poor man—one ignorant man, one weak man—even one backsliding man, may be the means of the conversion of a
whole nation! Who knows but that you who are nothing, now, may be of more use than those of us who appear to stand
better before God, because we have more gifts and talents? God can make a spark set a world on fire—He can light up a
whole nation with the spark of one poor praying soul. You may be useful yet—therefore be of good cheer! Moss grows
upon gravestones. The ivy clings to the moldering pile, the mistletoe grows on the dead branch and even so shall Grace,
piety, virtue, holiness and goodness come from smoking flax and bruised reeds, by God’s Grace!
II. Thus, my dear Friends, I have tried to find out the parties for whom this text is meant and I have shown you
somewhat of mortal frailty. Now I mount a step higher—to DIVINE COMPASSION. “The bruised reed He will not
break, the smoking flax He will not quench.”
Notice what is first of all stated and then let me tell you that Jesus Christ means a great deal more than He says. First
of all, what does He say? He says plainly enough that He will not break the bruised reed. There is a bruised reed before
me—a poor child of God under a deep sense of sin. It seems as if the whip of the Law would never stop. It keeps on—
lash, lash, lash. And though you say, “Lord, stop it and give me a little respite,” still comes down the cruel thong—lash,
lash, lash! You feel your sins. Ah, I know what you are saying this morning—“If God continues this a little longer, my
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pears as if ghosts were in the room—ghosts of my sins—and when I awake at midnight, I see the black form of death
staring at me and saying, “you are my prey, I shall have you.” All the while Hell behind seems to burn. Ah, poor bruised
reed. He will not break you—conviction shall not be too strong—it shall be great enough to melt you and to make you
go to Jesus’ feet. But, by His Grace, it shall not be strong enough to break your heart altogether, so that you should die.
You shall never be driven to despair. But you shall be delivered. You shall come out of the fire, poor bruised reed, and
shall not be broken!
So there is a backslider here this morning. He is like the smoking flax. Years gone by you found such happiness in the
ways of the Lord and such delight in His service, that you said, “There I would forever stay—
‘What peaceful hours I then enjoyed;
How sweat their memory still!
But they have left an aching void,
The world can never fill.’”
You are smoking and you think God will put you out. If I were an Arminian, I should tell you that He would—but being
a believer in the Bible and nothing else—I tell you that He will not quench you! Though you are smoking, you shall not
die. Whatever your crime has been, the Lord says, “Return, you backsliding children of men, for I will have mercy upon
you.” He will not cast you away, poor Ephraim! Only come back to Him—He will not despise you, though you have
plunged yourself in the mire and dirt, though you are covered from head to foot with filthiness. Come back, poor Prodigal,
come back, come back! Your Father calls you. Hearken poor Backslider! Come at once to Him whose arms are ready
to receive you. It says He will not quench—He will not break. But there is more under cover than we see at first sight.
When Jesus says He will not break, He means more than that. He means, “I will take that poor bruised reed. I will plant
it hard by the rivers of waters and (miracle of miracles) I will make it grow into a tree whose leaf shall not wither! I will
water it every moment. I will watch it. There shall be heavenly fruits upon it. I will keep the birds of prey from it, but the
birds of Heaven, the sweet songsters of Paradise shall make their dwellings in the branches.”
When He says that He will not break the bruised reed, He means more. He means that He will nourish, that He will
help and strengthen and support and glorify—that He will execute His commission on it and make it glorious forever.
And when He says to the backslider that He will not quench him, He means more than that—He means that He will fan
him up to a flame. Some of you, I dare say, have gone home from Chapel and found that your fire had gone nearly out. I
know how you deal with it, you blow gently at the single spark, if there is one—and least you should blow too hard, you
hold your fingers before it and if you were alone and had but one match, or one spark in the tinder—how gently would
you blow it! So, Backslider, Jesus Christ deals with you—He does not put you out—He blows gently. He says, “I will
not quench you.” He means, “I will be very tender, very cautious, very careful.” He will put on dry material, so that, byand-
by, a little spark shall come to a flame and blaze up towards Heaven and great shall be the fire thereof.
Now I want to say one or two things to Little-Faiths this morning. The little children of God who are here mentioned
as being bruised reeds or smoking flax are just as safe as the great saints of God. I wish for a moment to expand
this thought and then I will finish with the other head. These saints of God who are called bruised reeds and smoking flax
are just as safe as those who are mighty for their Master and great in strength, for several reasons. First of all, the little
saint is just as much God’s elect as the great saint. When God chose His people, He chose them all at once and altogether
and He elected one just as much as the other. If I choose a certain number of things, one may be less than the rest, but one
is as much chosen as the other and so Mrs. Fearing and Miss Despondency are just as much elected as Great-Heart, or Old
Father Honest! Again—the little ones are redeemed equally with the great ones! The feeble saints cost Christ as much
suffering as the strong ones. The tiniest child of God could not have been purchased with less of Jesus’ precious blood and
the greatest child of God did not cost Him more. Paul did not cost any more than Benjamin—I am sure He did not—for
I read in the Bible that “there is no difference.” Besides, when of old they came to pay their redemption-money, every
person brought a shekel. The poor shall bring no less and the rich shall bring no more than just a shekel. The same price
was paid for the one as the other!
Now, then, little child of God, take that thought to your soul. You see some men very prominent in Christ’s cause—
and it is very good that they should be—but they did not cost Jesus a farthing more than you did. He paid the same price
for you that He paid for them. Recollect again, you are just as much a child of God as the greatest saint. Some of you
have five or six children. There is one child of yours, perhaps, who is very tall and handsome and has, moreover, gifts of
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mind. And you have another child who is the smallest of the family, perhaps has but little intellect and understanding.
But which is the more your child? “The more?” you say. “Both alike are my children, certainly, one as much as the other.”
And so, dear Friends, you may have very little learning, you may be very dark about Divine things, you may but “see
men as trees walking,” but you are as much the children of God as those who have grown to the stature of men in Christ
Jesus. Then remember, poor tried Saint, that you are just as much justified as any other child of God. I know that I am
completely justified—
“His blood and righteousness
My beauty are, my glorious dress.”
I need no other garments except Jesus’ doings and His imputed righteousness! The boldest child of God needs no more.
And I, who am “less than the least of all saints,” can be content with no less and I shall have no less. O Ready-to-Halt,
you are as much justified as Paul, Peter, John the Baptist, or the loftiest saint in Heaven. There is no difference in that
matter. Oh, take courage and rejoice!
Then one thing more. If you were lost, God’s honor would be as much tarnished as if the greatest one were lost. A
strange thing I once read in an old book about God’s children and people being a part of Christ and in union with Him.
The writer says—“A father sits in his room and there comes in a stranger. The stranger takes up a child on his knee and
the child has a sore finger, so he says, ‘My child, you have a sore finger.’” “Yes!” the child says. “Well, let me take it off
and give you a golden one!” The child looks at him and says, “I will not go to that man any more, for he talks of taking
off my finger. I love my own finger and I will not have a golden one instead of it.” So the saint says, “I am one of the
members of Christ, but I am like a sore finger and He will take me off and put a golden one on.” “No,” says Christ, “No,
no—I cannot have any of My members taken away. If the finger is a sore one, I will bind it up, I will strengthen it.” Christ
cannot allow a word about cutting His members off! If Christ loses one of His people, He would not be a whole Christ
any longer! If the meanest of His children could be cast away Christ would lack a part of His fullness—yes, Christ would
be incomplete without His Church! If one of His children must be lost, it would be better that it should be a great one,
than a little one. If a little one were lost, Satan would say, “Ah, you save the great ones, because they had strength and
could help themselves. But the little one that has no strength, you could not save him.” You know what Satan would say,
but God would shut Satan’s mouth, by proclaiming, “They are all here, Satan—in spite of your malice, they are all here.
Every one is safe. Now lie down in your den forever and be bound eternally in chains and smoke and fire!” So shall he
suffer eternal torment, but not one child of God ever shall!
One thought more and I shall have done with this head. The salvation of great saints often depends upon the salvation
of little ones. Do you understand that? You know that my salvation, or the salvation of any child of God, looking at
second causes, very much depends upon the conversion of someone else. Suppose your mother is the means of your conversion.
You would, speaking after the manner of men, say that your conversion depended upon hers—for her being converted,
made her the instrument of bringing you in. Suppose such-and-such a minister to be the means of your calling.
Then your conversion, in some sense, though not absolutely, depends upon his. So it often happens that the salvation of
God’s mightiest servants depends upon the conversion of little ones. There is a poor mother—no one ever knows anything
about her—she goes to the House of God. Her name is not in the newspapers, or anywhere else. She teaches her
child and brings him up in the fear of God. She prays for that boy. She wrestles with God and her tears and prayers mingle
together. The boy grows up. What is he? A missionary—a William Knibb—a Moffat—a Williams. But you do not
hear anything about the mother. Ah, but if the mother had not been saved, where would the boy have been? Let this
cheer the little ones and may you rejoice that He will nourish and cherish you, though you are like bruised reeds and
smoking flax!
III. Now, to finish up, there is a CERTAIN VICTORY. “Till He send forth judgment unto victory.”
Victory! There is something beautiful in that word. The death of Sir John Moore, in the Peninsular war, was very
touching. He fell in the arms of triumph and sad as was his fate, I doubt not that his eyes were lit up with luster by the
shout of victory. So also, I suppose, that Wolfe spoke a truth when he said, “I die happy,” having just before heard the
shout, “they run, they run!” I know victory, even in that bad sense—for I look not upon earthly victories as of any value—
must have cheered the warrior. But oh, how cheered the saint when he knows that victory is his! I shall fight during
all my life, but I shall write “vici” on my shield. I shall be “more than conqueror through Him that loved me.” Each
Sermon #6 Sweet Comfort for Feeble Saints
Volume 1 www.spurgeongems.org
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feeble saint shall win the day—each man upon his crutches—each lame one—each one full of infirmity, sorrow, sickness
and weakness—shall gain the victory! “They shall come with singing unto Zion, as well the blind, lame and the woman
with child, together.” So says the Scripture. Not one shall be left out. But He shall “send forth judgment unto victory.”
Victory! Victory! Victory! This is the lot of each Christian! He shall triumph through his dear Redeemer’s name!
Now a word about this victory. I speak first to aged men and women. Dear Brothers and Sisters, you are often, I
know, like the bruised reed. Coming events cast their shadows before them. And death casts the shadow of old age on
you. You feel the grasshopper to be a burden, you feel full of weakness and decay, your frame can hardly hold together.
Ah, you have here a special promise. “The bruised reed I will not break.” “I will strengthen you.” “When your heart and
your flesh fails, I will be the strength of your heart and your portion forever”—
“Even down to old age, all My people shall prove
My Sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love!
And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn
Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.”
Tottering on your staff, leaning, feeble, weak and wan—fear not the last hour—that last hour shall be your best! Your
last day shall be a consummation devoutly to be wished for. Weak as you are, God will temper the trial to your weakness.
He will make your pain less, if your strength is less. But you shall sing in Heaven, “Victory! Victory! Victory!” There are
some of us who could wish to change places with you, to be so near Heaven—to be so near Home. With all your infirmities,
your gray hairs are a crown of glory to you! For you are near the end, as well as in the way of righteousness. A word
to you middle-aged men, battling in this life’s rough storm. You are often bruised reeds. Your religion is so encumbered
by your worldly callings, so covered up by the daily din of business, business, business, that you seem like smoking flax. It
is as much as you can do to serve your God and you cannot say that you are “fervent in spirit” as well as “diligent in
business.”
Man of business, toiling and striving in this world, He will not quench you when you are like smoking flax! He will
not break you when you are like the bruised reed, but will deliver you from your troubles! You shall swim across the sea
of life and shall stand on the happy shore of Heaven. And you shall sing, “Victory,” through Him that loved you. You
youths and maidens! I speak to you and have a right to do so. You and I oftentimes know what the bruised reed is, when
the hand of God blights our fair hopes. We are full of giddiness and waywardness—it is only the rod of affliction that
can bring folly out of us—for we have much of it in us. Slippery paths are the paths of youths and dangerous ways are the
ways of the young. But God will not break or destroy us. Men, by their over caution, bid us never tread a step lest we
fall. But God bids us go and makes our feet like hind’s feet, that we may tread upon high places. Serve God in your early
days! Give your hearts to Him and then He will never cast you out, but will nourish and cherish you!
Let me not finish without saving a word to little children. You who have heard of Jesus, He says to you, “The
bruised reed I will not break, the smoking flax I will not quench.” I believe there is many a little prattler, not six years
old, who knows the Savior. I never despise infantile piety. I love it. I have heard little children talk of mysteries that
gray-headed men knew not. Ah, little children who have been brought up in Sunday schools and love the Savior’s name,
if others say you are too forward, do not fear, love Christ still—
Gentle Jesus, meek and mild
Still will look upon a child!
Pity your simplicity—
And suffer you to come to Him.
He will not cast you away. For smoking flax He will not quench and the bruised reed He will not break!

Adapted from The C.H. Spurgeon Collection, Version 1.0, Ages Software.
PRAY THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL USE THIS SERMON
TO BRING MANY TO A SAVING KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS CHRIST.

Oceans of God's Love

WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND

Father's Love Letter

The Night Before Christmas

And He Shall Be Called I Am

At Christmas

Singing God's Praise

Satisfied Fully

Be Not Troubled

A Grateful Heart

COMING OF THE LORD

Without Jesus

Sanctified Throught the Word of God

Bearing Fruit

As Your Days

Ten Commandments

Proverbs

COME, HOLY SPIRIT, GOD AND LORD!

Repentance Prayer

Let Your Light Shine

Sweet Fellowship

God Hates These Things

Hope

God's Perfection

Love's Ingredients

In The Valley

Hope

Jesus The I Am

To One Who Overcomes

Eternal Life

Blessed Hope

Heirs of God

Living or Dying, We Belong to God

Give Thanks

Blessed Hope

From Death to Life

No One Knows the Day

Saved Frm Wrath

God Satisfies

Suffering For Christ

The Love of Christ

In The Day Of Trouble

Your Loved Ones

In The Steps Of Jesus

Sleep In Peace

Access To God

God's Love

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that isin Christ Jesus our Lord.

(Romans 8:38-39)

Trophies of His Love

Bible Pledge

I pledge allegiance to the Bible,God’s Holy Word,and will make it a lamp unto my feet,a light unto my pathand hide its words in my heartthat I may not sinagainst God.

Let God

Three Trees

Fasting Tips

The U in Jesus

WHERE WE'LL NEVER GROW OLD

SUPPOSE THERE IS NO HELL

CRIES FROM THE CROSS

The Answer On The Way

Wedding Music

Guidance

Being Faithful

SIGNS OF THE TIME

The Bible Stands

Here Is Love

Many Mansions

THE FINAL INSPECTION

The Remnant

Valley of Dry Bones

Fall of Lucifer

Scriptures

Abraham Land Covenant

WRESTLING FOR GOD

THE JUDGE'S RETURN

THE JUDGE'S RETURN

THE JUDGE'S RETURN

SALVATION FROM SIN BY CHRIST ALONE

Scripture Passages

Justified By Faith

For I am convinced that neither death nor life,
neither angels nor demons,
neither the present nor the future,
nor any powers,
neither height nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from
the love of God that is
in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I pledge allegiance to the Bible,
God’s Holy Word,
and will make it a lamp unto my feet,
a light unto my path
and hide its words in my heart
that I may not sin
against God.